Government to construct 100 dams in Kenya to irrigate 3 million acres of land

The National Youth Service will construct at least 100 dams and water pans yearly, according to President William Ruto’s announcement. Ruto suggested that the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation facilitate the service in achieving the mandate while speaking to the attendees of the 89th NYS pass-out in Gilgil.

That will enhance NYS’s financial independence and support the government’s agenda, he claimed. In addition, Ruto said that by utilizing the facility’s construction plant, machinery, and equipment, the move will enhance education, training, and skill development.

He said that the government is extending the land area under cotton production in order to fully capitalize on the tremendous potential to increase Kenya’s textile production. The President pledged in October 2022 that his government will construct 100 dams around the country to improve water harvesting for agricultural uses.

This is part of his government’s strategy to improve food production by weaning the country off of its reliance on rain-fed agriculture and toward irrigation. Cycles of drought have ravaged Kenya, leaving a severe food and pasture shortage. 193 irrigation projects in the Sh5.5 billion budget, according to the National Treasury, have stalled.

According to the president, Kenya spends approximately Sh200 billion a year on food imports, but this may be rectified with irrigation-fed agriculture.

Reported on  October 22, 2022

Government to construct 100 dams in Kenya to irrigate 3 million acres of land

In order to construct 100 dams in Kenya and progressively cover 3 million acres with irrigation systems, President William Ruto recently promised to initiate public-private partnerships.

The President stated that the government intends to increase the area irrigated in the country by 1.4 million acres over the next three years. He noted that irrigation is the most effective way to address the food shortage. Dr. Ruto mentioned the above while speaking at Uhuru Gardens during the 59th Mashujaa Day celebration.

In addition, President Ruto announced the allocation of 200,000 acres of land for the irrigation of rice. He claimed that the existing mechanisms for these schemes only require improvement. He added that 500,000 will be used for the growing of food crops.

Also Read: Kenya: Trans-Nzoia’s new Amani dam construction underway

Ruto said that priority will be given to areas that currently have mechanisms in place for the government to up-scale. These areas include Bunyala, the Tana delta, Rahona near Garissa, Mwea, and Ahero.