Expansion of rice growing area in Nyando on the right course at shs 150M

The ongoing civil works at Kobong'o Irrigation Project in Nyando Constituency which target 3,000 acres of land which part of the expansion Rice growing in the area-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

 

 By Dickson Odhiambo

January 25, 2021

Expansion of rice growing area in Nyando on the right course at shs 150M

THE Mega expansion of rice growing area in Nyando constituency within Kisumu County is on the right course, a Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation has said.

The Project which is an extension of expanding the Ahero Rice Irrigation Scheme will cost tax payers money of an estimated shs 150 million in a program that kicked off in June last year.

The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Irrigation Joseph Irungu says the Extension currently being done within Nyando Constituency known as Kobong’o Irrigation Project which is being undertaken by the National Irrigation Authority is really on the right track.

 

Addressing the press during the tour of the project accompanied by the Chairman of the National Irrigation Authority Eng. Joshua Toro, the PS the project is one which will help in increasing the production of rice and other horticultural crops targeting one of the Big Four Agenda which is Food security.

He says currently the existing water from river Nyando for use in irrigation within the area which is an extension of the Ahero Rice Irrigation Scheme, adding that the water cannot be put into a dam because of lack of a reservoir.

PS Irungu says the project target to open the area that have been experiencing floods when River Nyando burst its banks as a result of heavy rains witnessed during the long rains period.

He says the capacity of this country to tap on the water it has is 1.9million acres of land, adding that the Government has only done 27 percent and is now 500,000 acres of land.

He adds that a promise of doing 700,000 acres of land by the year 2022, adding that by the year 2030 an estimated 1.4million acres of land will be tapped for irrigation.

“We are expanding the Ahero Rice Irrigation scheme and reopening the areas that have been flooded to pave the way to this project in Nyando here,” Irungu says.

He says the expansion target 3,000 acres of land at Kobong’o irrigation Project, adding 500 rice farmers and other 30,000 dependents targeting growing of rice and other high value horticultural crops.

Irungu further says that the bigger plan for the region is to build a multi-purpose dam known as Koru-Soin Dam which is 93M cubic meters of water held in it, adding that it will cost an estimated shs 25 billion.

Irungu says that others Rice Schemes like the West Kano Irrigation scheme also in Nyando constituency will be opened up where 7,700 acres of land targeted, adding that the work has commenced.

“Some shs 270 million has been spent to do that expansion at the West Kano Irrigation Scheme,” he further says.

Irungu says that other areas like Lower Kuja in Migori County and lower Nzoia, adding that a total of 37,700 acres of land are targeted in Nyanza region for the expansion of rice and other horticultural growing.

Nyando Member of Parliament Jared Okello the expanding scope of rice growing within the area is a great project indeed.

He hailed the project saying it will help in good provision of food to the residents within the area and beyond.

Okello urges the residents to fully embrace the project, adding it will really change their livelihoods.

ENDS: