Background Information
Bura Irrigation Scheme is located in Bura Constituency, Tana North Sub-County, Tana River County. The scheme has a net gazetted area of 176,000 acres (Gazette Notice No. 2480 of 1985) with 12,000 acres developed for irrigation.
The National Irrigation Authority then Board was in charge of the scheme at its inception in 1978 up to 1985. Thereafter, the scheme management was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, then Ministry of Regional Development, Ministry of Land Reclamation, Regional and Water Development and back to Ministry of Agriculture up to 2002. In 2003, the scheme management changed to Ministry of Water and Irrigation. In December 2005, the scheme management again changed hands and was taken over by National Irrigation Authority.
Background Information
| Location | Tana river County |
| Year of Establishment | 1978 |
| Gazetted Area | 176,000 Acres |
| Area installed with irrigation infrastructure | 12,000 acres (10,063 Acres Main scheme and 2000 agro forest area) |
| Current beneficiaries/house holds | 2,245 |
| Settlement of farmers | Settled in 11 villages |
| Land allocated per farmer | 3 acres for main crop production and 0.125 acres for vegetable garden Maendeleo plot” |
| Area actively utilized | 6,000 Acres |
| Land Tenure | Tenancy system |
| Source of Water | River Tana |
| Method of water abstraction | Gravity |
| Type of irrigation method | Surface(furrow) Irrigation |
| Main crops grown | Rice and Maize |
| Other Crops | Cotton, watermelon, green grams, onions and Pasture |
| Farmers organizations | IWUA, Co-operative society, Revolving Fund (CBO), Scheme management committee and Dispute resolution committee. |
| Distribution of scheme developed area (Acres) Per Command |
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Current Status
The Scheme has 6,000 acres under crop; under the current gravity water flow. The Authority is working towards rehabilitating and expanding the Scheme infrastructure through the Bura Irrigation Development Project to command the entire 12,000 acres which will be further expanded to 20,000 acres, 40,000 acres and progressively to the entire potential.
As the Authority completes development of infrastructure in the scheme, preliminary soil analysis and hydrological surveys for 110,000 acres out of the gazetted 176,000 acres that can be put under production/utilization through private investments have been carried out.
Projected Benefits/ Benefits being realized
- Source of food and raw materials for the farming population and supporting of the local economy and industry.
- Creation of employment for the youth.
- Improving and rehabilitating the environment through afforestation.
- Promoting peaceful co-existence between crop and Livestock farmers.
- Settlement of the landless members of the society.