Irrigation PS Hosts German Official, celebrates Madaraka Day with Farmers

 

Photo: Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho with Ms. Kofler inspecting the Kandiu Irrigation Project. 

On Saturday, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, hosted Ms. Baerbel Kofler, the Parliamentary State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

Ms. Kofler's visit focused on the smallholder irrigation programme, which has successfully placed over 6,000 acres under irrigation through the completion of 19 irrigation projects.

PS Kimotho announced that the upcoming phase IV of the programme will fund 5 irrigation projects in Kirinyaga, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi counties.

Accompanied by PS Kimotho, Ms. Kofler conducted field tours of the projects, including the completed Kandiu Irrigation Project and the ongoing Kandeki Irrigation Project under Phase IV, both of which are part of the partnership with KfW.

During the visit, the Irrigation PS also joined in the celebrations of the 61st Madaraka Day with the national theme of Agriculture and Food Security by engaging with farmers of the Kandiu Irrigation Project in Kirinyaga County.

The PS emphasized the significant impact of irrigated agriculture in the Kandiu Irrigation Project, highlighting how household incomes have surged to Kes 500,000 annually through the cultivation of high-value crops such as French beans, baby corns, soya beans, tomatoes, and bananas.

Ms. Baerbel Kofler commended the Smallholder Irrigation Program for Mt Kenya Region (SIPMK) for its blended finance model, recognizing it as a transformative approach that fosters community ownership.

The visit by the Ms. Baerbel Kofler underscores the crucial role of German - Kenya collaboration in actualizing the smallholder irrigation programme and enhancing agricultural productivity and food security in Kenya. 

The programme has not only expanded the acreage under irrigation but has also positively impacted farmers' livelihoods by increasing their incomes and encouraging the cultivation of high-value crops.

By Victor Oyuko. For Mpesa support 0708883777. 

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