The lives of many families living in Garissa County have been significantly improved thanks to irrigation farming.
Moroccan Ambassador El Mokhtar Ghambou during his visit in Garissa was impressed by irrigation projects that are transforming farming and enhancing food security.
Ghambou toured some farms in Sankuri and Iftin wards where residents are taking advantage of River Tana that flows right through the middle of the town.
Garissa is among counties in North Eastern that has been synonymous with drought and hunger, and residents have been depending on relief food from the government for years.
However, residents from the county are now investing in irrigation farming to improve their families’ food security, especially during the dry periods.
“I must admit that the perception I had of this part of the country has changed. I have been impressed by what I have seen in the farms. Real farming is taking place, contrary to what I hear of this place that it is dry and people only rely on livestock farming to sustain themselves.”
“For a first-timer in Garissa, one will not notice that the vast county has acres of land that have been put on irrigation with fruits and vegetables being produced,” said Ghambou.
The Ambassador said water from River Tana is key to increasing food and livestock production and to build resilience to drought.
He added that crops produced from farms in Garissa can feed the residents and the surplus sold locally and internationally.