Government to expand irrigation to 1.2 million acres by 2028

Kenya’s irrigation sector is set for major expansion under a new investment roadmap aimed at boosting food security, increasing agricultural productivity and strengthening climate resilience across the country.

The State Department for Irrigation, through the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), has outlined plans to nearly double the area under irrigation from 664,000 acres in the 2021/2022 financial year to 1,289,142 acres by the 2027/2028 financial year.

The plan is also projected to significantly raise the volume of water available for irrigation from 55.4 million cubic metres to 2,379.2 million cubic metres over the same period, ensuring more reliable year-round water supply for farming.

Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho presented the update during the Head of Public Service Monthly Meeting with Accounting Officers held at Konza Technopolis, where he outlined ongoing achievements and strategic priorities under the department’s irrigation development agenda aligned to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

According to the plan, irrigated maize production is expected to rise sharply from 0.2 million bags to 5.075 million 90-kilogram bags through expanded irrigation infrastructure and improved water access for farmers.

The department says the increase is intended to cushion the country against climate-related shocks, strengthen strategic food reserves and enhance national food security.

Under the maize value chain, the State Department is implementing measures to improve irrigation water access for smallholder farmers while operationalising the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, which is expected to support production of more than 14 million bags of maize annually from 200,000 acres under irrigation.

The project has recorded progress, including the construction of a major intake and reservoir with a capacity of 450,000 cubic metres.

The roadmap also highlights Project Nafaka, which is implementing food production in three phases, with the third phase targeting cultivation of 20,000 acres within 30 months. The Galana Kulalu initiative is expected to contribute to national food security, attract investment, create jobs, increase government revenue and support growth in agro-processing and manufacturing.

In the rice value chain, the department has set a target of increasing paddy rice production to 700,000 metric tonnes by 2027 through irrigation expansion and modernisation of public irrigation schemes.

Planned interventions include conversion of schemes to gravity-fed systems, solarisation of irrigation infrastructure, rehabilitation of 78,341 acres under existing schemes and expansion of an additional 27,500 acres for rice production.

The interventions are expected to improve water-use efficiency, reduce operational costs and enhance sustainability across major rice-growing areas.

The plan further projects an increase in rice production from 305,000 metric tonnes to 570,000 metric tonnes within public irrigation schemes, with commercialisation of 35,000 acres expected to add a further 420,000 metric tonnes annually, pushing total production to about 990,000 metric tonnes and reducing reliance on imports.

In the horticulture value chain, the department aims to connect more than 100,000 farmers to irrigation water through community irrigation schemes and an additional 10,000 farmers through farmer-led irrigation initiatives. So far, 50 community irrigation schemes have been completed, covering about 60,000 acres, while 86 projects are ongoing.

The department has also completed 143 community water pans and small dams, with 65 others under implementation. Under the household water pans programme, 8,724 units have been completed while 160 are under construction. In addition, the Micro-Irrigation for Schools Programme has delivered 66 completed projects with 31 ongoing, supporting food production and learning in schools.

Other ongoing initiatives include the Smallholder Irrigation Programme for the Mt. Kenya Region, expanded community irrigation schemes and fodder production programmes aimed at strengthening livestock value chains and supporting feedlot development.