The CS Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Mr. Zachariah M. Njeru, EGH inspected the progress of Koru Soin Multipurpose Dam in Kisumu County on February 3, 2024. He later visited Ahero Irrigation Scheme.
He was accompanied PS State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, Ag. Irrigation Secretary Eng. Vincent Kabuti, OGW, among other leaders.
He was received by NIA Chairman of the Board of Directors Eng. Gibert Maluki, NIA officials led by CEO, Eng. Charles Muasya, MBS, and other senior Government officials.
The CS commended the scheme management and committed to supporting the farmers and Authority towards achieving its vision of water to every irrigable acre.
Ahero Irrigation Scheme is located in the Kano plains between Nandi Escarpment and Nyabondo Plateau. Water is abstracted from river nyado and pumped to the farms. 14,868 acres is actively under irrigation this includes Ahero-2168: Okana-3,500: Mbega- 800: Kasiru/Kolal – 200; Nokiso-1,500: Masune- 500: Kobongo-1,000: South West Kano- 4,500: Ayweyo- 700 acres.
The main crop grown in the Scheme is rice. The varieties of rice grown in are Sindano (IR-2793 & ITA 310), aromatic (Basmat-370), and hybrid (Arize Tej Gold & Arize 6444 Gold)
Other crops grown in Ahero Irrigation Scheme include; soybean seeds, commercial soybeans, watermelon, maize, tomatoes, sorghum green-gram, and cowpeas and pulses.
The implementation of Koru Soin Multi-Purpose Dam will contribute towards the sustainability of the scheme by providing for its transition from a pump-fed to a gravity-fed irrigation system and control flooding in the scheme by taming River Nyando and its streams. Currently, Ahero Irrigation Scheme benefits about 30,000 people.
The Scheme has Improved livelihoods of the people through creation of employment and providing food for their families. The infrastructure has been developed ((roads, stores, drying floor and offices). Capacity building has been done on marketing, management of the irrigation scheme and good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
The Scheme is contributing to rice production, enhancing household income and reducing rice imports as espoused in the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA).
The Scheme is contributing to rice production, enhancing household income and reducing rice imports as espoused in the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA).