The National Government has allocated Sh.128.75 to the Coast Development Authority (CDA) to start an irrigation project for farmers in Boji area of Tana River County.
The Authority Tana River County Coordinator, Abdi Osman said the state had already disbursed Sh.64.38 million, some of which had been used on farmers’ mobilization meetings, survey work and top sheet production, as well as land clearing and ploughing of 136 acres and the development of a farmers’ training manual.
Works that were still ongoing, included the construction of a water pipeline and in-field irrigation structures, wiring the pump house,supply and installation of irrigation systems, soil sampling and testing and supply and installation of water pumps.
“The Boji Smallholder Farmers’ Irrigation Project is located in Kinakomba location on 400 acres and is expected to support 100 households directly and over 500 persons indirectly,” Osman said.
He was speaking at the Tana River County Commissioner’s office during a County Development Implementation and Coordination Committee (CDICC) meeting on Tuesday.
Osman said the project seeks to enhance food security by increasing crop production through the use of irrigation
technologies.
The River Tana, from which the county derives its name, covers more than 500 kilometers as it snakes its way from
Mbalambala to Kipini. Galana River (Athi River) also passes through parts of the county, making the county’s agricultural potential immense.
That is why it is home to four major irrigation projects – Hola and Bura Irrigation Schemes, the Tana Delta Irrigation
Project and the multi-billion Galana/Kulalu Food Security project – as well as a number or minor irrigation schemes.
However, the county has suffered perennial food deficits owing to the fact that farmers have not been empowered to harness the water from the two permanent rivers to produce food crops.
By Emmanuel Masha
