Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has said that Kenya needs to shift from rain fed agriculture to irrigation agriculture in order to prevent drought that is currently affecting the country.
Wamalwa said the government will begin supplying irrigation equipment to small-scale farmers across the country so as to curb the effects of the drought.
He said climate change, unreliable and poor rains being experienced has led to the country’s food security being under threat.
"Following the climate change, the country will no longer rely on North Rift and Western Kenya for food, adding that Coast region, Ukambani and Turkana could be turned into the country’s new food baskets through irrigation farming," said Wamalwa.
He said the move is part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to mitigate on the effects of drought after he declared the current drought a national disaster.
“As we deal with drought facing our country, we are also looking at long term strategy to deal with food security. There is need for a paradigm shift from rain fed agriculture to irrigation agriculture,” he added.
The CS said that through the National Irrigation Board (NIB), the National Government will start inspecting all irrigation schemes across the country with a view of reviving them to enhance food production.
“Despite the challenges we are facing today, there is hope that through irrigation, Kenya can still be a food secure nation,” he added.