- Homa Bay farmers celebrate first rice harvest under revived irrigation scheme.
- Government begins buying paddy as farmers expect improved incomes.
- Project boosts food security and supports commercial rice farming.
Hundreds of smallholder farmers in Homa Bay County are celebrating their first rice harvest after the revival of the Kimira-Oluch Smallholder Farm Improvement Project (KOSFIP). The government has begun buying the paddy, a move expected to boost the country’s food reserves.
The first crop, harvested from about 200 acres, is expected to yield nearly 800 tonnes. Farmers say the income will help them clear loans, pay school fees, and meet other household needs.
The harvest follows months of work to bring thousands of acres under cultivation through the rehabilitation of the Ondago Swamp. Farmers received certified seeds, extension services, and technical support to help improve yields and household incomes.
State Department for Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the project shows that sustained investment in production agriculture is starting to change lives across the country.
The scheme is implemented by the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), with foundational support from the African Development Bank. Beyond rice, it also supports maize, tomatoes, kales, soybeans, watermelons and sunflowers, allowing farmers to diversify their crops throughout the year rather than depend on a single harvest.
A gravity fed irrigation system removes the need for costly fuel powered or electric pumps. This has helped more than 1,500 farmers move into commercial rice farming. Rehabilitation work has also reclaimed over 2,000 acres of swamp land that flooding had previously made unproductive.
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KOSFIP is made up of two schemes powered by local rivers. The Kimira Scheme draws water from the River Kibuon and covers 808 hectares across 44 blocks. The Oluch Scheme relies on the River Awach Tende and spans 666 hectares across 53 blocks.
The project has a total irrigable capacity of about 9,000 hectares, of which around 809 hectares are currently under production and ready for harvest. It directly benefits over 3,000 farming households, with a wider impact on more than 400,000 residents across the Nyanza region.
Farmers credited the training and technical support provided under the project for the successful harvest. They said they expect even higher yields in coming seasons as farming practices continue to improve.
Omollo said protecting public investments remains a priority. He said his department continues to work with local leaders, administrators and communities to safeguard the project, strengthen coordination among stakeholders, promote peaceful coexistence and maintain a secure environment for farmers and agribusinesses.
With the first harvest underway, farmers say the revived irrigation scheme has renewed hope that Homa Bay will become one of Kenya’s leading rice producing regions.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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