JICA’S PRESIDENT VISIT TO AHERO IRRIGATION SCHEME IN KISUMU COUNTY

Today, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Dr. Tanaka Akihiko, visited Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kisumu County. He was received by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Irrigation, CPA Ephantus Kimotho, CBS, and the Chief Executive Officer of National Irrigation Authority (NIA), Eng. Charles Muasya MBS and other senior government officials.

The aim of the visit was to assess the scope of proposed rehabilitation works in the scheme, which has been a vital source of livelihood for over 2,000 farmers and more than 30,000 dependents since it became operational in 1969.

The scheme, covering 4,174 acres (2,168 acres irrigable), is a major rice-producing scheme in the region and is now poised for transformation through key infrastructure upgrades.

During the visit, Dr. Tanaka was taken through the planned interventions, which include the construction of a new water pumping station with solar integration, rehabilitation of over 160 kilometers of canals and drains, flood protection works along the Nyando River, and expansion to the Kasiru-Kolal area. These efforts will not only improve irrigation efficiency but also help mitigate flooding and climate-related challenges.

The Principal Secretary lauded JICA’s continued support in revitalizing Kenya’s agricultural sector, while the CEO highlighted the importance of modernizing irrigation systems to ensure sustainable food production.

Rehabilitation of the scheme is one of the efforts the Authority is putting in place to increase water availability for rice farming in Kenya so as to increase locally produced rice and help reduce the National rice deficit as espoused in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA).