Enhancing Agricultural Growth: PS Ephantus Kimotho Implements Presidential Directive to Boost Lower Nzoia Irrigation Scheme

VIBRANT fields in Siaya County were full of anticipation on Thursday afternoon when Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho led a key farmers' sensitization; one that pegged another important milestone in the ongoing Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project. Launched on June 12, 2018, this initiative tended to change the face of agriculture in both Siaya and Busia counties by way of controlling flooding and increasing irrigation over an area of about 10,000 acres. With the completion set for May 2025, this becomes an indication of the Kenyan government's concern for improving food security and bettering the living conditions of native farmers.

Objectives and Scope

The Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project has been designed to achieve focussed objectives on sustainable agricultural practices. With an estimated budget of KSh 3.87 billion, the project has targeted irrigating 4,043 hectares, out of which 2,535 hectares are targeted in Siaya, while 1,508 hectares are targeted in Busia. This strategic plan has allocated 50% of the area under crops for high-value crops such as rice, sunflower, tomatoes, kales, capsicum, and African leaf vegetables. The remaining area will be used for supporting rotational crops such as maize and legumes, hence promoting diversified agriculture where maximum yield is achieved with a guarantee of soil health.

Community Engagement and Capacity Building

During the visit, PS Kimotho called for community involvement in the realization of the project objectives. To this day, the project hired agronomics consultants who have trained more than 10,000 farmers in good agronomic practices. The farmer groups formed to date are 148, and the cooperative societies formed are four, important in consolidating the production and marketing activities. This value addition not only improves productivity but also helps farmers attain economies of scale.

PS Kimotho further reiterated government's effort to develop off-take opportunities for such high-value crops as potatoes. This will go along with the goal of ensuring that farmers gain an income in a sustainable manner with introduction of cold storage facilities to cut post-harvest losses. These facilities will preserve the quality of the produce, enabling farmers to gain full benefits of their work.

Income from Farming

The Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project has the potential to realize an economic benefit once complete. It is expected to generate an estimated annual revenue of KSh 4.8 billion and uplift approximately 30,000 individuals through skills in agriculture and market access. This is in tandem with the Bottom-Up Economic Agenda-BETA-and will contribute highly to national food security.

Acknowledgment of Leadership

Much of the success of this ambitious project lies in how hard PS Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho works to ensure it sees the light of day. He has made issues that would have otherwise gone unnoticed come to the fore and, at the same time, remained very focused on the realization of the goals of the project. Kimotho has passionately pledged to keep empowering the farmers at the local level through capacity building and market linkages, thus making them have a sense of ownership of the project.

Future Prospects

Looking to the future, stakeholders are still optimistic that the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project will make Siaya and Busia some of Kenya's major agricultural hubs. Future plans for subsequent phases involve the expansion of irrigation services and are expected to increase farming activities while also changing the socio-economic outline of these regions.

On that Thursday in Siaya County, the air was filled with hope and determination as farmers flocked to learn about their future under the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project. Under the able stewardship of Irrigation PS Ephantus Kimotho, it is a large stride toward Kenya's agricultural sustainability and food security. While we await its completion in May 2025, we await a bright future for the many farmers across Siaya and Busia counties.

Article by Victor Oyuko. To buy coffee: 0708883777