Ministry of Water CS Eugene Wamalwa has met with the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives over the on-going Galana Kulalu Food Security Project.
Wamalwa said that during the meeting, the parties deliberated on, among other issues, the progress that the ministry, through the National Irrigation Board (NIB), has made in the development of the project.
“We discussed a new roadmap for Galana that will deliver the 10,000-acre model farm at Sh7.2 billion down from Sh14 billion. The inter-ministerial task force that I formed reviewed the Galana contract and phased out what was not essential for irrigation. For example, the construction of the milling plant has been moved to consequent phases that will include the private sector,” he said.
He added, “The model farm will be used as a proof of concept to attract local and international investors to Galana. The current EOI for private investors to Galana has received overwhelming response from local and international investors.”
Wamalwa said the parliamentary committee expressed its confidence in the progress made so far, and promised to join the Ministry on a familiarisation trip to Galana in a few weeks to witness, first-hand, the immense potential, and indeed promise, that the project has for the local community, and the country at large.
“For years, our country has relied on rain-fed agriculture as a source of food security for the country – and this is not sustainable. To make our nation more food secure, we have to be innovative and creative; we must adopt modern farming methods, including irrigation,” he said.
He enthused that Galana has the potential to make Kenya food secure and propel the nation to being a net exporter of maize and other food crops.
Quoting the constitution’s Article 43 (1, C), Wamalwa said that it guarantees that “every person has the right to be free from hunger, and to have adequate food of acceptable quality.” He said Galana addresses this basic right.
The 2015 Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Food Security Index ranks Kenya 83rd globally and ninth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He said the feasibility study at Galana, and results from the pilot project on an area of 500 acres, point to the massive potential of Galana. Results of between 30 to 39 bags per acre per season for maize are positive and encouraging.
He assured that they are taking active measures to ensure that they “help build a sustainable future for Kenya. Through the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, and in partnership with the Israeli Government, 100 young Kenyans will get free training on irrigation engineering in Israel every year for six years; with the same training model being replicated in various Kenyan institutions of higher learning.”