State scales up Galana project yields five-fold

With projections of 40 bags per acre, he said, viability of the project in fixing the national maize shortage will save the country billions of shillings in import bill. “We use Sh15 billion to import maize and other foods annually. PHOTO: COURTESY

The Galana-Kulalu Irrigation Scheme production has shot up five times, Water and Irrigation Permanent Secretary Patrick Nduati has said.

Speaking in Malindi yesterday, the PS said currently, 31 bags per acre are produced three times a year at the Vision 2030 project. “That is more than 18 bags produced once a year from Trans Nzoia, the country’s food basket,” said Mr Nduati.

With projections of 40 bags per acre, he said, viability of the project in fixing the national maize shortage will save the country billions of shillings in import bill. “We use Sh15 billion to import maize and other foods annually.

Consequently, we will hit 100,000 bags and so we will not need to import the commodity,” said Mr Nduati. Kenya requires a total of 20 million bags of maize annually to address production shortfall. Of the 10,000 acres in the irrigation scheme, 2,500 acres are solely for maize production.

National Irrigation Board said locals will benefit from more than 60 per cent of the harvest from the 2,500 acres. —Mumbi Kinyua