The national government has intensified efforts to restore over 1,000 acres of farmland at the West Kano Irrigation Scheme in Nyando Sub-County, targeting land that had been submerged due to rising water levels in Lake Victoria. The reclamation project, implemented with support from the National Irrigation Authority, aims to boost agricultural production and enhance food security in the region .
The initiative seeks to expand the area under cultivation and improve the overall productivity of the scheme, which has faced challenges from backflow from the lake in recent years. According to NIA Chief Executive Officer Eng. Charles Muasya, the project is part of a broader plan to optimise the irrigation scheme and increase rice production in the region. He noted that restoring the affected land will enable more farmers to participate in irrigation farming and improve their livelihoods .
Significant production gains expected
Currently, the West Kano Irrigation Scheme covers approximately 2,830 acres and produces about 8,000 metric tonnes of rice per season. With the ongoing expansion and full restoration of the submerged acreage, production is projected to rise significantly. Officials anticipate that with full utilisation, the scheme could help push total output from Western Kenya schemes to over 80,000 metric tonnes annually .
The increase in output is expected to generate an estimated Sh1.9 billion per cropping season for farmers, providing a major economic boost to the local community. This represents a substantial increase from previous earnings, which stood at approximately Sh600 million per season before expansion efforts began .
Infrastructure upgrades underway
Speaking during a consultative meeting with farmer representatives, Eng. Muasya emphasised the importance of modernising irrigation infrastructure. He said improved water management systems and upgraded facilities would enhance efficiency, increase yields, and strengthen resilience against climate-related challenges .
The authority has already taken steps to address long-standing challenges at the scheme. Recent installation of new water pumps has helped address waterlogging issues, particularly in lower fields that had kept portions of the scheme out of production for more than five years. The pumps assist in efficiently draining stagnant water back into the lake, allowing for fuller utilisation of the scheme’s acreage .
Commitment to full restoration
The NIA has reaffirmed its commitment to fully restoring the 1,000 acres to ensure maximum utilisation of the irrigation scheme. Plans are also underway to expand irrigation coverage beyond the current reclamation efforts and to train scheme leaders on effective management and governance .
The reclamation exercise is also expected to improve accessibility within the scheme and support sustainable agricultural practices. Farmers have been encouraged to embrace double-cropping, which could further increase annual production by allowing two harvest cycles per year on the same land .
The West Kano rehabilitation is part of a wider push by the State Department for Irrigation to revive irrigation schemes across Western Kenya. Similar efforts are ongoing at the neighbouring Ahero Irrigation Scheme, where a Ksh 650 million partnership with the Republic of Hungary is converting the pumping station to a solar-powered hybrid system, reducing operational costs for farmers
