Kenya’s irrigation projects have a long history. Irrigation systems in Kenya started as early as the sixteenth century along the Tana River and the coast. But after independence, the government of Kenya, via the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), has been active in improving, rehabilitating, and developing irrigation schemes countrywide. The goal is to ensure that irrigation schemes in Kenya benefit farmers and improve food production in Kenya.
Kenya has two categories of irrigation schemes: large-scale, which cover a land area of over 3,000 acres and small-scale irrigation schemes, which cover between 100 and 3,000 acres. However, the NIA expands and modernises public irrigation schemes to realise more acreage and ensure food security.
As of 2023, Kenya has put slightly above 500,000 acres of land under irrigation schemes. The crops grown in irrigation schemes in Kenya include maize, rice, onions, tomatoes, watermelons, and chillies.
Irrigation schemes in Kenya and the crops grown
Irrigation schemes have played a vital role in achieving the country’s food security. As of 2023, many irrigation schemes are being developed, with the Lower Sabor Irrigation Scheme being an excellent example. Here are irrigation schemes in Kenya and their sources of water.
1. Tana Irrigation Scheme
The Tana Irrigation Scheme is the oldest in Kenya. The scheme started in 1953, covering an area of 2,500 acres. However, it has gone through expansion and now has an area of 4,700 acres under irrigation, possibly expanding it to 12,000 acres.
The Tana Irrigation Scheme is in Tana River County in the Tana River Basin. It has become a crucial source of irrigation water for over 1,400 large-scale and small-scale farmers.
The scheme gets its water from the Tana River, the largest river in Kenya. Its waters are then used to irrigate various crops, including maize (main crop), cotton, rice, watermelon, green gram, onions, pasture, and horticultural crops.
2. Ahero Irrigation Scheme
Ahero Irrigation Scheme is among the largest irrigation schemes in Kenya. The scheme began its operations in 1969 after three years of construction. It gets its water from River Nyando in Kisumu County. The water is then used for basin irrigation to cover an area of 10,810 acres.
The water irrigates many crops, including soybeans, watermelon, maize, tomatoes, sorghum, and cowpeas. Rice is the main crop under the scheme. The scheme produces over 22,000 metric tonnes of rice annually. The government plans to increase the acreage under irrigation to ensure the scheme can produce up to 29,000 metric tonnes of rice annually.
3. Mwea Irrigation Scheme
Mwea Irrigation Scheme is in Kirinyaga County. It is the largest irrigation scheme in Kenya, covering an area of 30,350 acres. It started in 1954, with only 64 acres under irrigation. However, it has expanded over the years to support over 18,000 farmers.
The Mwea Irrigation Scheme gets its water from River Nyamindi and River Thiba. Conveyance systems are then used to pump water to the fields. The water then irrigates many crops, including tomatoes, onions, french beans, maize and horticultural crops.
Rice is the main crop grown in the scheme. At least 113,000 metric tons of rice are produced in the Mwea Irrigation Scheme.
4. Perkerra Irrigation Scheme
The Perkerra Irrigation Scheme is in Baringo County. It has a gazetted area of 5,800 acres, but the area under irrigation is 3,000 acres. It is also among the oldest irrigation schemes in Kenya. The scheme started in 1956 to improve food production in Baringo.
Perkerra Irrigation Scheme pumps its water from River Perkerra. The water gets to the land via a gravity-fed open earth channel conveyance system. It then irrigates maize (main crop), green grams, beans, cowpeas, and sorghum. Besides irrigation, the scheme provides over 1,600 households and livestock access to water.
5. Bunyala Irrigation Scheme
Bunyala Irrigation Scheme is in Busia County. It started in 1959 and only irrigated 534 acres of land. The water comes from River Nzoia and gets to the land through a basin irrigation system.
The irrigation scheme has expanded over the years to cover an area of 3,126 acres. However, the government intends to expand it to 20,000 acres. Initially, the scheme put rice under irrigation, which remains the main crop.
Pulses and horticultural crops are also under irrigation. Also, at least 2,500 farmers in Busia and Siaya counties benefit from the Bunyala Irrigation Scheme. Their efforts have ensured that the scheme produces over 10,000 tons of rice annually.
6. Bura Irrigation Scheme
Bura Irrigation Scheme is in Tana River County. It has an area of 3,500 acres under production or irrigation. However, the gazetted area is 12,000 acres. It sources its water from the Tana River. The water gets to the land through pumping using diesel engines.
Farmers then irrigate various crops, including rice, maize, cowpeas, watermelon, tomatoes, bulb onions, and cotton. However, maize is the main crop grown in Bura irrigation scheme. The scheme benefits over 2,000 farmers in Tana River County. They produce over 5,000 metric tonnes of rice and 134,066 of maize annually.
7. West Kano Irrigation Scheme
West Kano Irrigation Scheme is in Kisumu County. It started in 1976, covering an area of 4,396 acres and supporting over 1,300 farmers. It gets its water from Lake Victoria. It abstracts the water by pumping it from the lake.
Once the water reaches the fields, it irrigates various crops, including rice (main crop), soya beans, maise, watermelon, vegetables, and tomatoes. West Kano produces over 7,900 metric tonnes of rice annually.
8. Galana Kulalu Irrigation Development
Galana Kulalu Irrigation Scheme is in Kenya’s coastal region and lies between Kilifi and Tana River Counties. The scheme has been under development for many years, with several acres of land under irrigation.
The project’s target is to put a majority of the land under maize irrigation to address Kenya’s commodity shortage. The proposed land size is 1.75 million acres accessible on the lower River Athi, Galana, and Sabaki basin irrigation.
Only 500 acres are currently under irrigation on a trial basis. After the trial, the project will expand to 20,000 acres and progressively to 200,000 acres by 2030.
9. Rwabura Irrigation Development Project
Rwabura Irrigation Scheme is in Kiambu County. It is one of the latest irrigation development projects the National Irrigation Authority introduced. The goal of the project is to irrigate 1,500 acres of land. However, the NIA targets to increase the land area to 6,000 acres.
The water source is from rivers Thirika and Rwabura, with water supplied to the land through conveyance lines. As of 2023, only a small section of the land is under irrigation.
The crops targeted for irrigation are pineapples, French beans, cabbages, tomatoes, lettuce, and courgettes. Rwabura Irrigation Scheme targets at least 3,000 farmers, but the number could increase once the scheme’s expansion takes effect.
Irrigation schemes in Kenya - Final word
Kenya has many irrigation schemes that grow different crops. Examples are Tana, Ahero, Perkerra, Mwea, Bunyala, Bura, Rwabura, West Kano, and Galana Kulalu irrigation schemes. However, many irrigation schemes in Kenya are still under development, including the Lower Sabor irrigation scheme.
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