- Kagwe wants faster irrigation expansion to boost Kenya’s food production.
- Sh79 million Ndigiria Water Pan project will support a 50 acre irrigation scheme.
- Government plans to capture more rainwater and reduce reliance on rainfall.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has called for a rapid expansion of irrigation across Kenya as the country seeks to increase food production amid a growing population and increasingly unreliable rainfall.
Kagwe said Kenya must produce more food from every available acre because the population is increasing while the country’s landmass remains unchanged.
“The population is growing, and that does not mean the size of Kenya will increase. It is therefore important that we have water available to match that growth and feed our population,” he said.
The CS spoke in Kilifi County where he launched the Ksh 79 million rehabilitation of the Ndigiria Water Pan in Bamba, a project aimed at restoring water storage capacity and supporting a 50 acre smallholder irrigation scheme.
The project forms part of the government’s wider irrigation and food security strategy aimed at reducing reliance on rain fed agriculture by increasing water storage and expanding irrigated farming.
Capturing water before it goes to waste
Kagwe said Kenya should capture water during rainy seasons instead of allowing large volumes of runoff from seasonal rivers to go to waste before communities face shortages during dry periods.
He said the government’s approach includes harvesting runoff from seasonal rivers, storing river water, constructing and rehabilitating dams and water pans, and tapping groundwater through deep boreholes where viable.
“Kenya cannot continue depending on rain alone to feed its people. We must have water available for agriculture so that farmers can produce whether it rains or not,” Kagwe said.
He said the strategy is being implemented alongside major irrigation investments, including the Galana Kulalu project and programmes to develop dams and irrigation infrastructure across the country.
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The Ndigiria Water Pan, established in 1963, is being rehabilitated to restore its water holding capacity and support smallholder farmers in the area. The project is expected to directly benefit more than 100 farmers, reach an estimated 4,026 indirect beneficiaries and provide water for approximately 15,398 livestock.
Implemented through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), the rehabilitation will involve desilting and stabilising the water pan, fencing, construction of an intake structure, installation of pumping units and distribution pipelines, balancing tanks, solar power systems and farm irrigation infrastructure.
Kagwe said the objective was to turn stored water into food, employment and household incomes. He urged farmers to diversify production by combining food crops with commercially viable crops to strengthen food security while creating additional sources of income.
Farmers allocated land under the scheme will receive seeds, extension services and technical support to improve production.
Phased construction and better access roads
The CS directed the contractor to undertake the rehabilitation in phases so residents can continue accessing water during construction. He also called for the works to be accelerated to enable the pan to capture runoff during the coming rains.
Kagwe directed that livestock watering points be separated from the irrigation facility and instructed the contractor to prioritise residents for employment opportunities.
He also called for the road leading to the water pan to be graded, saying irrigation infrastructure must be supported by roads that allow farmers to transport their produce to markets. The CS pledged to champion improvement of the wider Bamba road network at Cabinet level.
By Bernard Magada
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