Background Information
Tana Irrigation Scheme is the oldest of the seven public irrigation schemes in Kenya managed by National Irrigation Authority (NIA). The Scheme started in 1953 during the Mau Mau and the Colonial Government fight.
The scheme collapsed in 1989 when Tana River changed its course, and was revived in 2009, rehabilitation which was funded by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Government of Kenya.
The scheme collapsed in 1989 when Tana River changed its course, and was revived in 2009, rehabilitation which was funded by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Government of Kenya.
Statistical Data
- Location/County – Tana River County
- Year of establishment – 1953
- Gazetted Area – 12,630 Acres
- Main Crop – Seed Maize and Rice
- Other Crops – Crops- green grams, cotton, rice, watermelon, and onions
- Area under Irrigation – 5,000 Acres
- Source of irrigation water – River Tana
- No. of household farmers – 1,450
- Type of irrigation – Water is abstracted through pumping, conveyed and distributed in open earth canal and applied through furrow irrigation system
Current Status
The Scheme gazette area is 12,639 acres, but 5,000 acres are in use benefiting around 1,450 farming families (households). About 6,000 people depend on the scheme for livelihood as NIA works to ensure that farmers receive enough water for irrigation by maintaining the pumping station, canals and construction of water reservoirs.
Crop diversification has been gradually adopted in the irrigation scheme with the aim of solving persistent problems such as limited access to market, credit and financing, and lack of education and technical skills.
Projected Benefits/ Benefits being realized
- Food security.
- Sii. Prevention of farmers – pastoralists’ conflicts by providing livestock water in the irrigation canals thus preventing the livestock from accessing the water from the river where the farmers do their farming.
- Source of food and raw materials for the farming population and supporting of the local economy and industry.
- Creation of employment for the youth.
- Supporting trade within and outside the county.
- Promoting peaceful co-existence between crop and Livestock farmers.
- Settlement of the landless members of the society..