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The government has prioritised a massive irrigation programme in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties in a move to curb perennial famine and increase food security through agriculture.

Principal Secretary State Department for Planning in the National Treasury Saitoti Torome (pictured) said ASAL counties will get priority in the scheme, which will see the government launch new irrigation programmes in the affected areas.

Torome said the government is keen on expanding irrigation schemes and reviving stalled ones to ensure the country remains food secure and in turn reduce the cost of living.

“Pastoralist counties have experienced recurrent famine as a result of drought. Most parts of the country were experiencing unreliable rainfall and erratic weather patterns with farmers often running into huge losses when their crops failed,” said Torome.

Speaking in Nakuru while opening an expert training workshop on the preparation of the Medium-Term Plan Strategy Paper (MTP) 4, Torome said they will emphasise on expansion and intensification of agriculture through irrigation.

He said the government will focus on crop diversification, poverty alleviation, food security, and improved quality of life for the rural population for a sustainable livelihood with farmers getting an opportunity to maximize profits.