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The government will spend Sh600 million in the current financial year to revamp Galana/Kulalu irrigation scheme in Tana River County.

Outgoing Water Sanitation and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui said the ministry is in the process of sourcing for funds from  Treasury to restart the ambitious irrigation project with a view to boosting food security.

 Since early last year when Green Arava, the Israeli company contracted by the government to construct a Sh7.2 billion Galana Kulalu model farm abandoned the project, National Irrigation Board has only been able to plant 3,000 acres.

“We have applied for Sh600 million from the National Treasury to help us revive the project and thus achieve the intended objectives. 

Sourcing of funds is part of a bigger strategy to mobilise more resources in order to produce more food to feed the growing population,” said Chelugui.

The CS made the remarks when handing over to former Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki.

More productive

Chelugui called his counterpart to restructure the management of the project either through concession or privatisation in order to make it more productive.   

The project, he said is party of other bigger projects the government is undertaking to boost food prosecution in the country. 

“The Ministry is engaged in over 17 projects key among them, National Expanded Irrigation Programme targeting provision of infrastructure for 572 irrigation projects countrywide, irrigation from 22,000 to 53,000 acres within 5 years,” he added.

Kariuki said her priority would be to ensure execution of projects and exploiting other avenues, for example, putting more land in irrigation.