Background
This programme was extracted from the National Expanded Irrigation Project to give the region a strategic approach with a view of empowering residents embrace irrigated agriculture. The project aims at harnessing surface water that has the potential of irrigating up to 33,000acres using both perennial rivers (R. Turkwel and R. Kerio) and extensive water harvesting for micro-irrigation. The project also aims at utilizing the ground water in the discovered aquifers in the region through sinking of boreholes to be used for irrigation development using water efficient irrigation technologies of center pivots and drip and enhance food production. The Lotikipi aquifer alone has renewable water (slightly saline) amounting to 3.224BCM/year and can irrigate approximately 425,000acres.
Turkana Irrigation Development Projects
| Project | Acres under irrigation | Beneficiaries | Crops Grown | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katilu | 1,800 | 2,546 | Maize, green grams and sorghum | Under production |
| Lokubae | 2,500 | 4,675 | Maize, green grams and sorghum | Under production |
| Elelea | 1,300 | 2,600 | Maize, millet & horticulture | Under production |
| Morulem | 1,680 | 3,240 | Maize, millet & horticulture | Under production |
| Naipa Lot 1 | 910 | 1,736 | Maize, millet & horticulture | Under production |
| Naipa Lot 2 | 910 | 1,736 | Maize, millet & horticulture | Under production |
| Lotikipi | 20 | 80 | Maize, millet & horticulture | Under production |
| Total | 8,210 | 16,613 |
Benefits of the Projects
- Improve the food security situation in the project areas
- Improve the income levels of the local population
- Improve agricultural productivity in the area
- Create employment and wealth creation opportunities