In a new move to address food security, the national government is again investing hundreds of millions to complete the Galana-Kulalu food security project.
Sh800 million has been invested by the national government to complete the 10,000-test acre farm in the project perched between Tana River and Kilifi Counties.
In the first term of President Uhuru Kenyatta, the government pumped in about Sh5 billion to irrigate 5,100 acres.
The first phase was implemented by Green Arava an Israel-owned company, which was contracted to do the 5,100 acres before the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) took over to complete the remaining 4,900 acres.
Currently, the government says over 200,000 acres of land in Galana Kulalu are fit for irrigation and not one million as has been reported by the media.
According to NIA board Chairman Joshua Toro, during president Kenyatta’s commissioning, it was stated that the government was intending to put one million acres under irrigation in the entire country but was mistaken to be in Galana Kulalu.
Speaking after an induction tour of the farm together with other directors Toro said the local contractor Irrico international limited was doing a commendable job with minimum costs as his work will cost Sh800 million to develop infrastructure while the first contractor spent over Sh5 billion.
“Previously NIA engineers were not involved in the designing process as it was the contractor who was dictating what was to be done. However, the current contractor is doing more with little money. Even the even center pivots being installed are 25 which were many compared to the previous contractor who did install less,” Toro said.
He said that the current contractor, a Kenyan is doing 4,900 acres about 50 percent of the work, and will spend Sh800 million and that Kenyans should compare Sh5 billion and 800 million and see the difference.
Currently, the 10,000-test acre farm at the Galana Kulalu food security project is expected to be complete by December this year to pave way for Public-private partnerships that will see over 200,000 acres being put under irrigation.
Already Irrico international who is putting up the infrastructure is at an advanced stage setting up a new pumping station that will be waterproof and safe from flooding, pipeline, and 25 additional centers Pivot systems for irrigation.
Authorities said the current contractor is setting up electromechanical, mechanical, and civil works at the remaining 4900 acres.
The Contractor is also installing three 1 MVA AND 15 KVA water-cooled engines and power generators complete with controls.
Irrico company Limited is also going to provide, install, test, and commission electric motor driven pumps mounted on a provide, install common base plate complete with cables and control panels.
Further, the company will also do fencing and the overall work done is currently 30 percent complete.
This year the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) targets to crop 5100 acres in the farmland in the season which began in April 2080 acres were already done.
The Chairman said it was good for African engineers to be proud of themselves because of their expertise compared to the foreign ones.
Toro said their work is to put infrastructure and then leave the remaining work to be done by the community to do farming maize but since the land belongs to the government the Ministry and NIA will see the best way to give to the private sector.
He said 10,000 acres is a lot of lands and they would want to go and put up an infrastructure elsewhere for people to benefit.
“When the president came to launch this project, he said the Jubilee government was intending to have 1 million countrywide to be put under irrigation not Galana Kulalu alone,” he said.
Fatma El-Maawy one of the NIA Directors said it was the first time to be in Galana but was surprised to see an area which was a desert that has been turned into important use which showed it was possible to be done.
She said it was sad that Kenya has to import food from outside yet the potential for producing its own food was high.
“The National irrigation Authority has empowered us by ensuring they bring water, everybody human beings animals needs water, we can use the water in a good way by increasing production,” she said.
El-maawy said they saw modern coconut trees which take the shortest time to mature being grown in Galana, cashew nuts, pineapples, mangoes, and maize which are the largest producing.
She said with the potential seen in Galana there is no need for the country to import maize and instead the money can be used to increase production and ensure Kenyans get maize cheaply.
The director said there was a need for talks with other stakeholders so as to begin looking for investors who can commercialize the project.
“If we can commercialize this project, we shall achieve one of the flagship projects of the government which is food security and there is enough for our consumption here and even sell to other countries,’ she said.
Samuel Alima another director also said they were impressed by the work which was done in Galana Kulalu.
He said it’s now evident that the government can build infrastructure and the public sector take it to a commercial level.
“When we get back, we will see what we can improve on and the roadmap to PPP which is done through a commercialized way,” he said.
*This article was written by Ramadhan Kambi for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews@gmail.com for News tips and Inquiries.
