BY MANUEL ODENY

Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has said government plans to open up more land for Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme.

He said there is ongoing works at the Lower Kuja Irrigation Project-Phase II in Nyatike Sub County-Migori to emphasise food security.

“Migori County is blessed with good soils and rain and with the interception of subsidized fertilizer our Migori farmers have been empowered to produce more sugarcane, maize and fish to add to our national basket”, noted Koskei.

Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho said that the Lower Kuja Irrigation Project when completed will generate 70,000 metric tonnes, a contribution of about 10 percent of the total rice production in the country that currently stands at 700,000 metric tonnes.

Kimotho pointed out that the irrigation scheme will enhance the food security agenda and createjob opportunities along the food production chain that includes processing, marketing and consumption to improve the incomes of local farmers.

Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko who accompanied the Head of Public Service noted that the tour to assess the progress of the recently launched Kuja Irrigation Block 2.1 project was a positive indication that the country was moving in the right projection.

Ochilo explained that the ambitious initiative of the irrigation scheme once fully operational will bring approximately 19,000 acres of land under rice production.