A Food security project in Kenya established in the arid Turkana County late last year by the government has run into trouble as the first crops have failed due to the current water crisis facing the country.
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The food security project in Kenya which was run by Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) that cost US $700,000 was planted on a 150 acres piece of land with plans to increase to 500 acres. This was an effort by the government to use the vast water aquifer that was discovered in the county so as to grow crops in the semi arid region by using the centre pivot technology.
The water shortage has also affected the Galana-Kulalu in Kilifi which was among the government’s plan to kick out hunger in the country.
The irrigation plan was to expand production in the virgin lands far from the traditional regions that have a high dependency on rain and had depleted soils due to immense cultivation. The project did not anticipate the current water crisis hence has been forced to seek alternative means to save the project.
KVDA has been forced to go back to the drawing board so as to come up with a way to boost water supply and irrigate the project.
The authority however says that it still hopes to expand the project to cover 1,000 acres in its effort to feed the region as it is among the hardest hit by drought. Mr. Samwel Kigen, the KVDA regional director said they have been forced to drill boreholes for the irrigation of crops. A geological survey has already been conducted to determine the best possible areas for drilling the boreholes.
KVDA hopes that the boreholes will serve the irrigation purpose in the meantime while awaiting the rains expected in April so as to boost the project. This will require future planning by the country as the water crisis faced in most African countries could lead to a severe drought if not properly planned for.
