Written By Vanessa Kariuki ||
The Nyanjigi Irrigation Project in Murang’a County, among two other comparable projects, was yesterday inaugurated by CS Water Sanitation and Irrigation Hon Alice Wahome.
Other projects that have cost the government close to Sh500 billion include Boboti Kiamandein Kandara and Maragua Ridge in Murang’a South.
In addition to enhancing food security and wealth creation, the irrigation projects will bring 2,500 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs to the neighbourhood.
“Nyanjigi project was supported by the community and the government. We have come in to provide the infrastructure that leads to the distribution of water to farmers’ farms,” she said.
“The project will support horticulture farming and it is estimated annually the beneficiaries will be able to make more than Sh100 million,” she added.
The goal of the national government is to irrigate three million acres of land by 2030. The CS stated that 1. 8 million acres will be irrigated over the next five years and that the projects are aimed at small-scale farmers.
She emphasized the need of promoting irrigation farming by stating that there is now a deficit of more than 10 million bags of maize in the nation.
“For the government to attain food security, there is a need to support irrigation farming. This will require a partnership between the government, members of the community and private investors,” said the CS.
Nyanjigi Irrigation project ups the 100% food and nutrition security of the Bottom Up economic model transformation agenda.
