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Selu to invest Sh13bn in Galana-Kulalu project
Selu Limited chief executive officer Nicholas Ambanya at a maize store at Galana Kulalu in Tana River County on January 18, 2024. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NMG
Selu Limited, one of the firms investing in the government-backed Galana-Kulalu irrigation project, has announced plans to inject at least $80 million (Sh13 billion at current exchange rates) in the next three years, following a successful pilot phase last year.
The firm says its pilot realised record-breaking maize yields of up to 35, 90kg bags an acre, the highest ever recorded in Galana Kulalu’s history and close to four times the national average and is now eyeing to expand operations on the farm covering 20,000 acres.
Selu has revealed that it has concluded the initial development phase of 500 acres, which involved a feasibility assessment to evaluate the viability of large-scale commercial maize farming in the 1.75 million-acre government-owned ranch.
“The recently concluded pilot phase has yielded remarkable results, with record-breaking maize yields of up to 35, 90-kg bags an acre, the highest ever recorded in Galana Kulalu’s history and close to four times the national average,” Mr Nicholas Ambanya, CEO, Selu Limited said.
“The project has significant potential to impact Kenya’s food security, with the 20,000 acres of land set for commercialisation, and with the high level of productivity to substantially boost Kenya’s annual maize production.”
The firm says the project implementation was undertaken in partnership with a consortium, consisting of LEAF Africa, Campo-Brazil and BrazAfric Group that provided expertise on large-scale tropical commercial farm management.
The firm said the investment would be channelled towards rolling out full irrigation, smart agriculture and introducing renewable energy solutions in the race towards achieving carbon-neutral food production, in a development set to transform the social and economic fortunes of the communities living around the area.
The development of the Galana-Kulalu project is through a public-private partnership and is part of the government’s efforts to make Kenya food secure.
“To build the pilot, Selu Limited, a limited liability company established to invest in and transform the Galana Kulalu irrigation project through innovative and sustainable farming practices, undertook several key initiatives to ensure the success of the development phase.”
The Leaf, Campo and BrazAfric consortium are strategic because there are significant synergies to be derived in the commercialization of the project given over 40 years of learnings and implementation expertise by Campo in tropical agriculture in Brazil and beyond, who have 243,200 hectares (circa 600,000 acres) under cultivation in Brazil.
“Beyond agricultural advancements, the Galana Kulalu Project will positively transform the social and environmental state of the communities living in the area.”
