by Christine Lagat
NAIROBI, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will scale up investments in water harvesting and irrigation infrastructure in a bid to accelerate a shift from rain-fed agriculture that has undermined attainment of food security in the country, an official said on Tuesday.
Principal Secretary for Planning and Statistics Irungu Nyakera said in a commentary published by the Daily Nation that national and county governments will enact sweeping policies to boost rain water harvesting and irrigation as a means to address endemic hunger and malnutrition.
"A monumental shift from rain fed agriculture will offer solution to food insecurity that has been detrimental to development of this nation," said Nyakera, adding that erratic rainfall patterns have worsened poverty and inter-communal tensions in arid regions.
Kenya's devolution and planning ministry has fast-tracked implementation of the third medium term plan (MTP3) which roots for investments in projects that promotes sustainable development at the grassroots level.
Nyakera said the State has earmarked adequate funds to construct new dams and irrigation schemes in arid and semi arid regions that have been experiencing food scarcity.
"The MTP3 prioritizes food security and boosting agricultural production. A critical component of food security is ensuring that sufficient water is available annually for agriculture," said Nyakera.
He added that access to innovative water harvesting and storage technologies will enhance food production at the smallholder level.
Kenya has expanded land under irrigation in the last four years in line with its vision 2030 goal to achieve food security and boost rural incomes.
Nyakera revealed that land under irrigation expanded from 354,775 acres in 2013 to 483,670 acres in 2017 thanks to massive capital injection from the state and private investors.
He said the government has started various large scale irrigation projects and the most notable one is the Galana-Kulalu irrigation scheme that produced 39 bags of maize per acre.
"We will initiate new projects under public private collaboration to raise commercial agricultural production to at least 1.2 million acres," Nyakera added.
He disclosed that additional investments are being explored to boost water management and agronomic practices among smallholder farmers who produce over 80 percent of staple food in Kenya.
