After 12 years, irrigation scheme roars back to life

Deputy President William Ruto (in blue cap) joins a farmer, Martha Wagwanda (without gumboots) in planting rice at the launch of Lower Nzoia Irrigation project in Budalangi, Busia County. With them are Busia leaders [DPPS]

After 12 years, the Sh5.8 billion Lower Nzoia Irrigation Scheme has finally taken off.

Residents of Ugunja, Alego Usoga and Budalang’i constituencies are optimistic rice production will begin on a new level.

Last week, Water CS Simon Chelugui broke the compensation stalemate that had seen the project stall, announcing that Government released Sh480 million for the compensation.

The announcement was made during the relaunch of the project, which was presided over by Deputy President William Ruto, coming at a time rice production in the country was dwindling against increased demand.

“My request to the people is to allow the project to go on,” pleaded Mr Chelugui, when he addressed residents at Bunyala Irrigation Scheme during the relaunch.

The project under the National Irrigation Board was conceived in 2006 to help combat perennial flooding at the lower Nzoia areas, while diverting the water and using it for irrigation.

The project is expected to increase acreage under irrigation from 2,000 acres currently to 10,000 acres to boost food security. Of this, 5,000 acres is expected to be under high value crops and the other 5,000 acres under rice and food crops to benefit 12,000 households.

The project will also see at least 34 km of dykes constructed besides River Nzoia to prevent bursting of water banks. 

The PS announced that there were efforts to ensure the project is completed in 2021 as had been envisioned.

“We know there are land succession issues that have also been at stake, but we are handling them promptly,” said Chelugui.

According to the National Irrigation Board, some preliminary works, which include the construction of concrete diversion weir, 135m connecting channel and 2.7km canal, are ongoing.

The board had expressed concerns over the delay in the compensation, which it argued would see the cost of the project shoot up due to variations by the contractors.

When complete, the scheme’s annual budgetary allocation will jump to Sh3 billion up from the current Sh600 million.

Irrigation PS Fred Segor said the project was set to be a fully-fledged agribusiness venture with production and value addition.

“10 per cent of the produce will go for subsistence purposes, while the rest is processed here,” he said.