Background Information
West Kano Irrigation Scheme is located in the Kano plains between Nandi escarpment and Nyabondo plateau on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kisumu County. The Scheme was constructed in the year 1974 and become operational in 1976.
Statistical Data
| Location/County | Kisumu County |
| Year of Establishment | 1974 |
| Gazetted Area | 4,450 acres |
| Area under irrigation | 2,230 acres |
| Main Crop | Rice |
| Other Crops | Soya beans, maize, watermelon, vegetables and tomatoes |
| Source of Irrigation Water | Lake Victoria |
| No. of Beneficiaries | 1,500 farmers and 20,000 dependents |
| Type of Irrigation | Basin |
| Water abstraction | Water is abstracted by pumping from Lake Victoria and water drainage is also by pumping back to the Lake |
Current Status
The main crop grown in West Kano is rice. The Scheme produces about 7,500 Metric Tonnes (MT) of rice annually.
The Scheme has 962 registered farmers with gross area of 4,450 acres. The gross farm land area is 2,230 acre and farm size of 2-4 acres per farmer. The Scheme irrigation water is abstracted by pumping from Lake Victoria and water drainage is also by pumping back to the Lake. The Scheme has a population dependent of about 20,000 people.
Projected Benefits/ Benefits being realized
It is expected that by the end of this season a total of 5352 tonnes of paddy rice will be harvested and gross income of 187.3 million realized.
Other benefits include;
food security, and employment.
- Enhanced food security.
- Employment creation
- Wealth creation thereby improving living standards (e.g. Health, Education, Shelter, and general economic growth of the population)
- Supply of fresh produce to town centres.
- Source of food and raw materials for the farming population and supporting of the local economy and industry.
- upporting trade within and outside the county.