The government has announced plans to utilise the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to revitalise the ailing Perkerra Irrigation Scheme and other aging irrigation schemes in the country.
Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa made this revelation while touring the irrigation scheme in Baringo County.
According to the CS, the involvement of the military will lead to the rebuilding of the scheme, which was first built in 1956. A tour of the scheme revealed that it is in a significant state of deterioration occasioned by climate change and heavy flooding witnessed in early 2024.
He also averred that the disciplined forces would be utilised in the revitalisation of other irrigation schemes, such as the Mwea and Ahero schemes.
Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa in a past event
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Eric Mugaa
Mugaa noted that the infrastructure projects constructed during the colonial era, which are critical to Kenya’s food security, are in a dire state and require urgent intervention if the country is to secure its food and seed base.
“The scheme is aging. Not only here in Perkerra. It is aging in Mwea and Ahero as well and there is a need for change. We need to hold discussions between the government, farmers, and county governments to bring reforms to the irrigation scheme at Perkerra and other irrigation schemes,” he noted.
The 5,800-acre Perkerra scheme, which currently has 2,600 acres under irrigation and generates Ksh696 million annually, was heavily damaged after floods wreaked havoc, severely hampering Kenya’s food basket.
Aside from producing rice, onions, tomatoes, green grams, and watermelon, the scheme also serves as a major seed producer for several seed companies, enhancing the country’s food security ecosystem.
On the other hand, the Mwea Irrigation Scheme is facing numerous challenges, such as rat and snail infestations and damage brought about by intense floods. The scheme is also facing the challenge of poor and damaged roads that have severely impacted the transportation of agricultural products.
During a recent visit to the scheme, Mugaa informed of plans to invest over Ksh700 million to repair over 600km of the poor road in the scheme.
In the Ahero irrigation scheme, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) in 2023 managed to secure Ksh3 billion from the Japan International Cooperation Authority (JICA) to revamp the scheme and provide technical support to farmers to boost rice production.
It is expected that the military will be instrumental in providing technical and mechanical support in the rehabilitation of the irrigation schemes and aid in their future maintenance.
A farmer at Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kirinyaga County.
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National Irrigation Authority