Inside Nyong'o's big plan to make Kisumu a major bread basket

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o speaks during his first county address since he was re-elected. [Collins oduor, Standard]

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has rolled out an ambitious plan to transform Kisumu into a food basket and reduce its overdependence on other countries for food.

Prof Nyong'o argued that agricultural transformation is critical to growing the economy, especially in the reduction of the cost of food, alleviating poverty, and delivering 100 percent nutrition and food security.

Speaking on Tuesday during his first county address since he was re-elected, Prof Nyong'o said to drive the transformative agenda, his government would focus on interventions in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sub-sectors by increasing output and value-addition, through agro-processing and boosting food resilience.

"We have focused on irrigation to help improve food production. One example is Awach Irrigation Scheme in Nyando sub-county, East Kano Wawidhi ward where four kilometres of the lined canal has been done with a capacity to irrigate 625 acres and benefit 1,200 households," he said.

Other irrigation schemes are in Kadibo sub-county, Kabonyo Kanyagwal ward where another four-kilometre canal has been installed with a capacity to irrigate 180 acres, benefitting 530 households.

Others are the Gem Rae irrigation scheme in Nyakach sub-county with a capacity to irrigate 400 acres and benefitting 1,360 households; and the Chiga Irrigation Scheme in Kisumu East sub-county, with a capacity to irrigate 200 acres benefitting 700 households.

And Saturday, the governor disputed claims by critics that his government had abandoned rice farmers, and noted that his government has been working with rice farmers to help address challenges facing the rice sub-sector.

He said the county has purchased a rice mill worth Sh30 million to address rice milling concerns. The mill is being installed at the National Irrigation Authority site in Nyando.

Nyong'o added that with support from the Venezuelan government through the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), they have also received a rice mill with a capacity of milling 1.5 metric tonnes per hour to improve the value chain. The mill was given to COFA - a local Community Based Organisation (CBO) in Gem Rae.

He said apart from rice irrigation, the department supplied 47 irrigation water pumps to farmer groups in Kisumu West, Muhoroni, Kisumu East, and Nyakach to enhance small-scale vegetable irrigation.

"To build the capacity of farmers, the county government initiated the rehabilitation of Maseno Agriculture Training Center at a cost of Sh10 million. We also initiated the construction of Pap Konam Agricultural Training College in Seme Sub County at a cost of Sh20 million," he said.

The governor also noted that other major projects being implemented include a Sh31 billion United Green Project on rice, cotton, soybean, and other crop value chains, sourcing for investors in various crop value chains, and expansion of irrigation schemes.

On livestock production, the governor said they have been keen to help boost milk production and reduce reliance on imports. He said in the 2021/2022 financial years, 180 households benefited directly from the distribution of 152 dairy cows, of which 67 calves have been born to date.

He said the livestock department is preparing for the operationalisation of the Kisumu Dairy Enterprise Development Centre (KDDC) at Nyangore in Chemelil/Tamu ward.

Prof Nyong'o said already, two hay barns constructed in the 2021/2022 financial year to serve Kajulu and Nyabondo dairy cooperative societies and the four silage chopping machines have led to an impressive uptake of silage production technology.

Further, the use of drones being assembled at Chemelil by American company Zippline Limited to help in the distribution of semen in the Artificial Insemination Programme in agriculture, was a major boost.

In the fisheries sub-sector, the department is set to work with the national government to roll out the Kabonyo fisheries and aquaculture service and training center of excellence estimated at Sh1 billion.

"You recently heard about the death of fish in Lake Victoria due to changing environmental conditions of the lake waters, which was attributed to the vagaries of climate change. To this end, my government will spend Sh3 million to purchase fingerlings and fish feed to help the cage fish farmers who lost fish in the lake to restock their cages," he said.

He further noted that a rapid response unit led by the County Secretary, has been set up in his office to deal with emergency issues caused by the death of fish in the lake.

"To ease pressure on Lake Victoria, my government is investing in aquaculture. Our Aquaculture Business Development Project (ABDP) is targetting some 432 beneficiaries through construction and rehabilitation of 561 fish ponds. The project will also support infrastructural improvements of the Ahero and Uhuru fish markets," said Prof Nyong'o.

The governor also stated that on poultry, their partner - the Kitchen Basket Poultry Company - is set to receive a grant of Sh19 million to unlock the poultry value chain market to local producers.