STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MEETING IN THE LOWER KUJA IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN MIGORI COUNTY

Today, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) Management team led by the Ag. Director Irrigation Development Services, Eng. Loise Kahiga and Ag. Director, Irrigation Management Services, Eng. Jairus Serede and other officers visited the Lower Kuja Irrigation Development Project for an engagement session with local leaders, Irrigation Water Users Association (IWUA) leadership, Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), farmers representatives and National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) on the progress, challenges and opportunities for unlocking the project’s full potential.

The discussions centred on transforming Lower Kuja Irrigation Development Project into a productive and commercially viable agricultural hub. A key priority is for farmers to increase productivity to support more than two cropping seasons annually, creating the consistency and scale needed to attract private investment.

The Authority emphasized the need to embrace agribusiness and agro-processing so that farmers can derive greater value from their produce. This includes promoting rice alongside sugarcane and high-value horticultural crops such as tomatoes, as well as advancing contract farming and crop rotation to maximise land and water productivity.

Farmers on their part highlighted the positive impact of capacity building for rice production and the fertiliser subsidy authorized by the President, which have contributed to increasing production from 2.4tonnes to 3.2tonnes per acre in the last cropping season. The IWUA chairman also attributed the improved livelihoods and growth of the Nyakweri center to the rice farming activities.

The meeting also addressed the need to fast-track completion of the remaining project components as designed, mechanization of the cropping activities and full operationalization of the scheme through close collaboration with the IWUA, County Government of Migori and other key stakeholders.

The meeting resolved to prioritize implementation of the recently contracted blocks ( Block 1.1, 1.2 , 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3) as well as fastrack compensation of the identified Project Affected Persons (PAPs).

It was further agreed to continue mobilizing resources from National Government, County Government of Migori and donors to finalize BC1 and all the other blocks including Block 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Support infrastructure like dykes, access roads and CSR activities were also discussed and agreed to be done once funds are available.

NIA remains committed to working with farmers, local leaders, the IWUA, the County Government of Migori and other stakeholders to build a productive and sustainable Lower Kuja, strengthening food production, creating opportunities for agro-processing and investment, raising farm incomes and contributing to the region’s emergence as a major rice and agricultural production hub.