Sh2.5 billion irrigation projects to boost food production in Murang’a

The national government is currently implementing 22 irrigation projects to boost food production in Murang’a County.
The projects done by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) are being implemented in parts of the county which receive minimal rains.
Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu on Monday said the projects, funded at a tune of Sh2.5 billion, were at different levels of completion.
Some of the irrigation projects being implemented include Mirichu/Murika, Nyanjigi, Mirira, Nginda and Mukurwe wa Nyangathanga.
He noted that within a period of one year, some of the irrigation schemes would be complete and farmers would benefit with water to carry out irrigation farming.
The PS observed that some farmers have already been sponsored to undergo training on the best farming practices to equip them with skills and knowledge about the types of crops to farm through the irrigation process.
Irungu spoke as he led officers from his ministry and relevant agencies to inspect several water projects in Kiharu constituency.
“There are five irrigation projects which are currently being implemented. The five will cover an area of 7, 500 acres and will cost a tune of Sh1.68 billion. There are other nine new procured projects and seven more are at the design stage,” added the PS.
The projects, he noted, will boost farming of horticultural and subsistence food crops, saying the income from farm produce would improve the county’s economy.
“Farmers are earmarked to earn more once they commence commercial farming through irrigation and this will create employment to thousands of local residents,” observed Irungu at Mirira irrigation project.
Apart from the irrigation projects, Irungu said the government was also doing other water projects to increase domestic water connections.
He said in 2013, water connection in the country stood at 57 percent but currently, the connections have increased to 65 percent.
“In Murang’a, the government is also doing other water projects to ensure residents get connected to domestic water. Some of the projects are near to completion,” he added.
On the northern water collector tunnel, the PS said the project is near completion as the process of acquiring land to lay pipes from Ngethu water treatment in Gatanga Sub County to Gigiri storage tank in Nairobi is ongoing.
“The tunnel is expected to commence operations within a period of six months. The project is expected to increase 140, 000 cubic metres of water to Nairobi and its environs,” he further said.
Meanwhile, the PS observed that the Water Ministry would soon launch a Mobile Application that will help wind out cartels especially in cities and major towns.
“The ministry will monitor all water bowsers and we will be helped to monitor distribution of water and do away with cartels who have rocked the water sector,” he said while urging security agents to apprehend all those who would be found vandalizing water infrastructure.
By Bernard Munyao