The government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding irrigation infrastructure as part of efforts to strengthen food security, create jobs and increase rural incomes under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo said the ongoing expansion of the Bunyala Irrigation Scheme under the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project is expected to significantly increase agricultural productivity in Busia and Siaya counties while enhancing Kenya’s capacity to produce rice locally.
“The Government continues to invest heavily in production agriculture as a key pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, strengthening food security, creating jobs and boosting rural incomes,” Dr. Omollo said.
According to the PS, the irrigation scheme, which was established in 1969 as a 540-acre pilot project, has expanded to more than 3,200 acres currently under production and supports over 14,000 farmers.
Rice remains the project’s main crop, with the scheme producing an average of about 10,000 metric tonnes annually from varieties including Kwamboka, Super, Rice Gold and IR rice.
Dr. Omollo said expansion works, currently 62 per cent complete, are expected to bring more land under irrigation and further boost domestic rice production as the country seeks to reduce reliance on imports.
He noted that the project has undergone significant infrastructure improvements, including the shift from pump-fed irrigation to a gravity-fed system drawing water from River Nzoia.
The new system has lowered operational costs, improved the reliability of water supply and enhanced irrigation efficiency, while farmer-managed drying and storage facilities have strengthened post-harvest handling and improved access to local and regional markets.
“The project has also benefited from major infrastructure upgrades, including the transition from costly pump-fed irrigation to a gravity-fed system drawing water from River Nzoia,” he said.
Dr. Omollo added that the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration continues to support implementation of the project by coordinating national government functions at the grassroots, facilitating community engagement, overseeing stakeholder consultations and ensuring a secure environment for project activities.
He said collaboration between government agencies and local communities remains critical to the successful implementation of large-scale irrigation projects that are intended to transform livelihoods and improve agricultural productivity.
The Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project forms part of the government’s broader strategy to expand irrigated agriculture, increase food production and strengthen the agricultural sector as a driver of economic growth under the BETA agenda.
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