The government has announced plans to mobilise resources to the tune of Sh598 billion to finance expansion of area under irrigation by one million acres in the next 10 years to increase food production.
In the 10-year plan under the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), the government targets to fast-track various strategies including public-private partnerships, credit guaranteeing smallholder farmers and enhancing corporate agriculture.
State Department of Irrigation Principal Secretary, Ephantus Kimotho, speaking to the media during a pre-launch event Thursday, noted that increasing resources in the subsector will contribute to making the country food self-reliant and thus reduce food imports.
Kimotho explained that 39 % of the resources will be funded by government and development partners, while 61 % will be funded mainly by the private sector. "This strategy is geared towards investment in irrigation food and fodder production and will be guided by five investment pathways that will enable multiple financing sources, and local initiatives strategically aligned with total focus on government goals," he said.
