Last Updated 13 years ago by Kenya Engineer
Food insecurity in Kenya is set to be a problem of the past with the launch of the one million acre Galana-Kulalu irrigation scheme, one of jubilee government’s flagship projects, in Tana River by President Uhuru Kenyatta. In the groundbreaking ceremony of the development of a 10,000 acre model farm on Thursday, President Kenyatta said that the project will employ modern agricultural technology.
“We will utilize our well-trained manpower in engineering, agriculture, livestock, fisheries and research to exploit the opportunities created by this Project in modern integrated irrigated agriculture and adoption of the latest irrigation technologies,” he said.
According to the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Cabinet Secretary, Felix Kosgei 200,000 acres will be put under sugar cane, 500,000 acres under maize, with the first maize crop being planted on the farm in March, and 150,000 acres would be reserved for ranching and a game reserve. Fruit orchards, horticulture, and dairying would be assigned 50,000 acres each.
The government promised to put one million acres of land under irrigation by end of its term in 2017, this project covers that bit of the manifesto. The irrigation scheme is intended to address poverty in the area and enhance food security with maize output from the pilot expected to be 30 million bags. Currently, Kenya’s production stands at 38 million bags. The government is also investing in an energy project in Lamu to produce 2,000MW of power to distribute to the scheme and coastal areas.
The Galana project that is estimated to cost in excess of Sh250 billion, will also serve as a practical training centre of excellence for the country’s young professionals, said the President.
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