CS Wamalwa optimistic Galanas third crop will meet target

Despite Sh3 billion so far being spent on the Galana Kulalu irrigation scheme, the second crop did not perform well due El-Nino rains, failing to meet its target of 40 bags per acre.

However, according to the Cabinet Secretary of Irrigation Eugene Wamalwa, it is expected that the third crop planted on 500 acres of land to be harvested in August will be a success.

“For now we are looking at the best four. We are expecting that we should get at least 40 bags per acre based on what we have seen so far,” said Wamalwa.

So far, Sh3 out of Sh7 billion has been spent with 2000 acres covered with crop. This varying from crops to be harvested next month to those recently planted.

In as much as the project seems to be taking face, the second crop planted on 500 acres failed to meet its expectations due to El – Nino rains.

“From the experts, they have informed us that they did not achieve what they set to achieve but what we have now, the third and final run is what will give us a clear picture of what has been achieved here,” confirmed the cabinet secretary.

The project that is being implemented by Green Arava of Israel and ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s state visit to Kenya in the week, Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa toured the project to inspect its progress.

So far, a generator has been put up along the Tana River where water from the river is filtered and is used for the irrigation process.

“The intention of the model farm was really to show the potential. We have shown that out of the shrubs of Galana, we can grow a beautiful crop, we can feed this nation,” he said.

The Galana Kulalu project is meant to provide food security in the country and to see Kenya stop importing 10 million bags of maize every year. At the same time, Kenya is implementing lessons learnt from Israel, which has remained food sufficient despite 80 percent of its land being on arid or semi arid land.

CS Wamalwa said that the project will not only look at the growth of maize but different varieties of crop as well. He however reassured maize farmers to continue growing their crop despite Galana falling in shape stating that Kenya’s food security will need them to continue playing their role.

The varieties of maize currently planted on the 2000 acres include punda milia, DKC, Duma 43, pH4 among others.