Revival of Tana Delta Irrigation rice project underway, official says
By KNA, December 20, 2022The Principal Secretary for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) Idris Dakota has announced plans to revive the Gamba rice project.
He said the revival process had started in the Tana Delta Irrigation project which stalled over 10 years ago.
Dakota (pictured) said the government had rehabilitated primary and secondary canals providing water to the paddy fields and preparations were ongoing to begin rice production.
Tana Delta Irrigation project has the capacity for 12,000 ha of rice and hundreds of farmers are expected to benefit.
Dakota toured the project over the weekend to inspect the progress.
Mechanization
He was accompanied by the Tana and Athi River Development Authority (Tarda) Managing Director Liban Roba Duba adding that they would use an integrated approach by engaging local communities in the project to do rice farming.
Dakota said the focus was to improve on the mechanization and develop the irrigation infrastructure to improve the livelihoods of the community.
Residents asked the government to speed up the revival process, saying it will create job opportunities and address the issue of food insecurity in the area.
Golo Abdala, a resident of Bandi village said the project will not only benefit the area residents but also the whole country as it will bring together people from all walks of life with different expertise.
Abdalla said life in the area had become difficult since the collapse of the project.
“Life was good as many people used to get income to educate their children but since it collapsed life has become difficult,” he said.
Osman Korir, a resident of Hewani village, said: “We have hope now after seeing the plans to revive the project as it will create job opportunities for the youth.”