LAUNCH OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN 2023-2027
This morning, the Principal Secretary; State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS officiated the launch of National Irrigation Authority (NIA) Strategic Plan 2023-2027 at the Bomas of Kenya.
In attendance were the Irrigation Secretary, Eng. Vincent Kabuti, OGW, Secretary Administration at the State Department for Irrigation David Yatich Kipkemei, the Authority’s Board members led by the Chairman Eng. Gilbert Maluki, the Authority’s staff led the CEO Eng. Charles Muasya and other stakeholders.
The launch marks a significant milestone in the Authority’s commitment of ensuring sustainable and efficient irrigation interventions for socio-economic development in Kenya.
The plan aims to steer Kenya towards a food secure and prosperous nation through development, coordination, and management of sustainable irrigation services and is anchored on the Kenya Vision 2030, MTP IV, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the Constitution of Kenya and other legal and policy documents.
Additionally, the Plan aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063, and the East African Community Vision 2050.
It is built upon five key result areas namely Sustainable Irrigation Management, Irrigation Research and Innovation, Sustainable Irrigation Development, Sustainable Water for Irrigation and Governance and Service Delivery.
The key result areas will be instrumental in helping the Authority achieve its key strategic goals. They include improved productivity in irrigation schemes by ensuring their optimization and enhanced productivity of irrigated agriculture by increasing the area under irrigation from 711,993 acres in FY 2022/2023 to 1,289,142 acres in 2027/28 and irrigated rice & maize production from 192,299 tons & 195,921 (90kg) bags in FY 2022/23 to 700,000 & 3M (90kg) bags respectively in the FY 2027/28.
Additionally, the Authority plans on sustainably exploiting development of irrigation potential and securing reliable water for irrigation through construction of dams, household water pans and rehabilitation of community small dams among others.
The plan emphasizes on strengthening collaborations with Counties/CIDUs, development partners, the private sector, the community, and other stakeholders to ensure the achievement of the Authority’s priorities in the next five years.
The PS emphasized on the importance of leveraging on PPPs to ensure optimization of the irrigation potential in the Country. Further, he applauded the milestones made which include engaging Selu Ltd in maize production at the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project as well as other negotiations ongoing to onboard the Private Sector in the implementation of Galana Dam, Radat Dam, Lowaat Dam and Isiolo Dam among others.
In his remarks, Chairman, Eng. Gilbert Maluki, emphasized on the need to ensure optimization of the existing infrastructure by among others developing the capacity of farmers and engaging the private sector in Public Private Partnerships. He urged the stakeholders to steer towards making the Authority a one stop shop where we produce, add value, and link farmers to markets in line with our mandate.
On the other hand, the CEO, Eng. Charles Muasya, MBS called on all external and internal stakeholders to play their role in the implementation of the Strategic Plan.