Lucerne project in Tana River to boost farming and food security

Access to reliable water resources is one of the main challenges that affect agriculture and food security in the arid and semi-arid Tana River county.

The National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority (NWHSA) on Wednesday said Tana River has a lot of untapped agricultural potential but lack the requisite reliable water infrastructure and other strategic investments.

Speaking in Nairobi, NWHSA said the introduction of commercial lucerne farming in the county has the potential to increase agricultural productivity, which will have the domino effect of generating employment, improving household incomes, and strengthening the county's livestock value chain.

Lucerne farming involves cultivating a perennial legume widely known as alfalfa, primarily for high-protein livestock feed.

Lucerne, also known as ‘Queen of forages’, is incredibly valuable for its rapid growth, deep taproot that fixes nitrogen in the soil, and crude protein content of between 18-24 per cent.

It is highly digestible and rich in vitamin, minerals, and crude proteins, and is used to feed dairy cattle, goats, sheep, and rabbits, often reducing the need for expensive commercial concentrates.

On Wednesday, the NWHSA, the Tana River county government and Stella Mundi Properties Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly implement the large-scale lucerne project. It is an initiative designed to improve water harvesting and storage, support year-round irrigation, expand commercial fodder production and strengthen the county's resilience to climate change.

The project is expected to combine public sector technical expertise, county government support and private sector investment to address recurring water challenges while unlocking Tana River's agricultural potential.

"Investment in water infrastructure go beyond physical development by creating opportunities for communities to prosper through agriculture and other economic activities," NWHSA CEO Julius Mugun said.

Beyond increasing agricultural productivity, the partners said the initiative will contribute to flood risk management, enhance food security, create employment opportunities and improve household incomes for local communities.

The project will see the development of resilient water infrastructure that will support continuous irrigation for large-scale cultivation of lucerne.

The investment is also expected to strengthen environmental and social safeguards while attracting additional private investment into the county's agricultural sector.

Mugun said such climate-resilient investments support Kenya’s broader development goals.

“This collaboration is a step towards propelling Kenya towards the Singaporean dream of becoming a first world country,” he said.

NWHSA chair Jane Mwikali said the agreement demonstrates the value of partnerships in delivering practical development solutions that respond to local needs.

“This MoU marks the beginning of many more partnerships that will deliver tangible benefits to the people of Tana River,” she said.

Tana River Governor Dhadho Godhana said efforts to modernise agriculture and improve economic opportunities within the county are always welcome.

Godhana said commercial lucerne farming will catapult Tana River into one of the counties that support Kenya’s economy through large-scale agriculture.

“We have potential. We just lack resources but through such partnerships, we can get the resources we require to boost Kenya’s food security,” the governor said.

Stella Mundi Properties Ltd’s Allan Ndung'u said the project presents a strong commercial opportunity given the growing international demand for lucerne fodder.

He said the Middle East remains a key export destination where demand for quality livestock feed continues to rise, creating opportunities for Kenyan producers.

“This is a major agricultural investment with the potential to generate significant returns while creating sustainable economic opportunities for the people of Tana River,” he said.

The three institutions said the initiative will serve as a model for public-private collaboration in climate-smart agriculture by demonstrating how coordinated investments in water resources can improve climate resilience, strengthen food security and support inclusive economic development.

Once implemented, the Lucerne Project is expected to position Tana River as a key producer of commercial fodder while contributing to Kenya's broader efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and climate adaptation.