Background Information
Bunyala Irrigation Scheme is one of the seven public Schemes in Kenya started in 1969. It was started with an initial 534 acres under paddy rice production. It has been under production since then. Located in Busia and Siaya counties, the Scheme has been getting its irrigation water from River Nzoia through pumping and flows by gravity through open earth channels to the farms until the completion of the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project which has allowed water flow to the scheme via gravity.
Current Status
The Scheme has a potential area for irrigation of 22,000 acres. Currently, 3,246 acres are under production: 534 acres at the Original Main Scheme and 2,712 acres at the additional expanded areas benefitting 3,489 farmers each holding an average of 1-4 acres of land. The Scheme produces about 12,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) of rice annually.
The Scheme has been abstracting water from River Nzoia through pumping via six (6) Electric Powered Pumps: 4 No @ 0.3m3/sec at the Main Scheme Intake & 2 No. at 0.15m3/sec at the Rwambwa-Mudembi Intake and conveys it through basin irrigation system; conveyance by open earth canals until the completion of the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Project which has allowed water flow to the scheme via gravity.
The scheme is one of the 14 blocks of the Lower Nzoia Irrigation Development Project which once complete will support an additional 10,000 acres of rice production.
Rice production
The Scheme embarked in increasing rice production through;
- Expanding land under irrigation
- Increasing cropping intensity and diversification
- Increasing yield per unit area
The above interventions led to increased food security. In the financial year 2020/2021, the 10,000rice yield increased to tons up from 9,030 tons the previous year.
Projected Benefits/ Benefits being realized
- Wealth creation thereby improving living standards (e.g. Health, Education, Shelter, and general)
- Average earnings of KSh 540 million per year
- Employment opportunities to 16,230 people
- Enhanced Food Security
- Flood Mitigation/ Protection
Statistical Data
| Location/County | Bunyala Sub-County, Busia County & Alego-Usonga Sub-County, Siaya County |
| Year of Establishment | 1959 |
| Gazetted Area | 10,000 acres |
| Main Crop | Rice |
| Other Crops | Pulses and Horticulture |
| Area under Irrigation | 3,246 Acres |
| Expansion Area | 2,592 Acres |
| No. of Farmers | 3,489 Households |
| Source of Irrigation Water | River Nzoia |
| Type of Irrigation | Basin irrigation system |
Figure 4: Farmers at Bunyala scheme rice seedling
