The Government has cut by half the cost of the 10,000-acre model farm of the ambitious Galana-Kulalu food security project in a new road map announced yesterday.
Irrigation and Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said the project will cost Sh7.2 billion down from Sh14 billion earlier estimated. He said the ministry formed a task force to review the Galana contract and phased out what was not essential for irrigation.
“For instance, construction of the milling plant has been moved to consequent phases that will include the private sector,” he said.
Speaking during a press conference, Mr Wamalwa said the model farm will be used to attract local and international investors to Galana. He said the government is opening the area to private investors to invest in food production.
He said: “The current expression of interest for private investors has received overwhelming response from local and international investors. The project has the potential to make Kenya food secure and propel the nation to being a net exporter of maize and other food crops.”
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He added that the feasibility study for Galana, and results from the pilot project on an area of 500 acres, point to the massive potential. “Results of between 30 to 39 bags per acre per season for maize are positive and encouraging. We would like to assure Kenyans that Galana project will lower the price of unga (maize meal) to below Sh84 per two kilogrammes. It will also create jobs,” he said.
He pointed out that maize from a sample area of 500 acres are stored in National Cereals Board stores adding that the second round of the crop will be harvested at the end of February. Investors are expected to roll out the process by September this year.
Food Security Index
As a result of the partnership between Kenya and Israeli government in the project, Wamalwa said 100 young Kenyans will get free training on irrigation engineering in Israel every year for six years. He noted that the same training model will be replicated in various Kenyan institutions of higher learning.
He said the ministry will expand acreage under irrigation in different parts of the country like Lower Kuja in Migori, Mwea Irrigation scheme in Kirinyaga, Lower Sio in Busia and various irrigation schemes in Turkana.
Further, he affirmed that the ministry is planning to initiate other projects in various parts of the country including Ewazo Ngiro North, Lower Nzoia, Mwache, Turkana, Baringo, Turkwel and Kerio River.
According to the 2015 Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Food Security Index, Kenya was ranked 83th globally and 9th in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The project, which had ignited controversy in December last year, is cooling off after the CS claimed his ministry and the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture had formed a national task force to oversee its implementation.
