Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme

The Lower Kuja Irrigation Development Project is located in Nyatike Sub County, Migori County within the Lower Kuja River basin. The project is situated about 400 km to the west of the capital city of Nairobi, 110 km to the south of Kisumu City, 45 km to the north-west of Migori town and 15 km to the west of Macalder Township, the Nyatike District headquarters. The Project covers 6 locations and 13 sub-locations in Nyatike and Karungu Divisions.

• 2,150 Acres under rice, 5,568 acres under sugarcane for the agro industry and other horticultural crops:
• A total of 449 acres developed in Block 2-1 courtesy of World Bank under the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIG) and County Government of Migori.
• Ongoing expansion works in phase II which was launched by His Excellency the President in August 2024.

The scope of works envisaged during the design review was proposed as follows;

• Enhanced agricultural productivity in the region as a result of increased area under irrigation.
• Improved nutrition as a result of diversification in crop production.
• Creation of employment directly benefitting 4,750 households.
• Improved livelihoods as a result of stable source of income.
• Contributing to sustainable supply of raw materials for agro-based industries.
• Flood control as the construction of this project has not only created distinct water-ways through canals but also created a buffers that reduces flood peak discharge.
• Increased GDP as a result of increased agricultural productivity and economic growth

• Location/County – Nyatike Sub-county, Migori County
• Year of establishment – 2019
• Gazetted Area – 19,000 Acres
• Irrigation Area – Potential: 50,000 acres (with storage) & 19,000 acres (without storage)
• Main Crop – Rice and Sugarcane
• Other crops – Maize, sweet potatoes, green grams, kales, cabbages, onions, bananas, passion, Asian vegetables and watermelons
• Source of irrigation water – River Kuja and Migori
• No. of Farmers – 4,750 Households
• Type of irrigation – Basin irrigation system