Rice production in Kenya is set to marginally increase following plans for irrigation expansion at Ahero by 2,500 acres.
The National Irrigation Authority says the government will also invest Sh80 million as it targets to open up the area under rainfed and irrigated rice.
This is expected to raise production to 11,000 metric tonnes valued at more than Sh500 million.
West Kenya Irrigation Schemes manager Joel Tanui said this will be “a big boost” to the Ahero Irrigation Scheme that was launched in 1969 and has grown to an area of about 13,000 acres — against a posiible 490,000 acreas — benefiting close to 7,000 farmers.
“We are looking to bring in farmers from Mbega and Kobong’o schemes within the larger Kano Plains in a project expected to alleviate the perennial floods,” he said.
The situation is now worse due to a backflow from Lake Victoria that has been going on for close to a year.
The expansion is a source of employment for residents who take up jobs like weeding, planting and harvesting, Mr Tanui stated, adding that the project will cover another 2,500 farmers.
Philemon Amai from Kobong’o who has diversified into horticulture and sugarcane and owns four acres, says he is “optimistic for a good harvest.”
In Mbega, farmers have put more than 1,200 acres under rice while in Kobong’o growers are going into horticulture and growing crops like green grams.
Using River Nyando for irrigation, it is expected to open up the area whose irrigation potential is yet to be tapped.
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