NORTHERN KENYA: Irrigation projects turn arid areas green

The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) has been implementing Irrigation projects across the country geared towards the increasing area under Irrigation as well as realize the Big 4 Agenda especially on food security and nutrition. 

 Wajir and Mandera Counties in North Eastern region are some of the areas the agency has been implementing Irrigation projects to help the residents embrace irrigated agriculture as well as diversify their economic activity which is pre predominantly livestock keeping. 

 The authority has come up with the most sustainable way of availing water to the residents for Irrigation, livestock and domestic use by excavating community water pans and sinking boreholes at strategic areas for use by the community. 

 In Wajir County, 20 irrigation projects have been developed, which includes Mansa Irrigation Project among others.

More than 700 acres of land  have been put under Irrigation with 1,000 farmers directly benefiting from the projects.

 In Mandera county, there are 22 projects including Lehele Irrigation project.

The projects cover 1,240 acres of land with about 1,240 farmers directly benefiting from the food security programmes. 

 The projects ranges from 20 - 200 acres each with the majority of them growing fruit trees such as mangoes, bananas,pawpaw,  oranges among others and vegetables such as kales, tomatoes, capsicum among others. 

 During our recent field visit to Mansa and Lehele Irrigation projects in Wajir and Mandera counties, beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support the Authority has given them.

They promised to continue embracing irrigated Agriculture and requested the Authority to consider them for more projects since the majority of the residents have not been met by the ones already done.

Our news lines are

Mobile Phone (SMS)0719-889-925

ceo@themountainjournal.co.ke

info@themountainjournal.co.ke   

themountainjournal@gmail.com

www.themountainjournal.co.ke