The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Rice growers in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, are enjoying higher harvests and better earnings following the expansion of the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, with beneficiaries urging the government to scale up investment in the project.
Farmers in the Karaba section say improved and reliable water supply has led to increased rice yields. The expansion has opened up more land for irrigation and improved water distribution, resulting in a notable rise in annual rice output.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
The project has seen the construction of new canals, upgrades to water management systems and the adoption of more efficient farming methods, including value addition. These changes have modernized farming practices and eased long-standing challenges caused by water shortages.
According to Mwea Irrigation Scheme chairperson Peter Chege, inadequate irrigation water in the past restricted farmers to just one rice-growing season per year. The completion of Thiba Dam has since boosted water availability, allowing farmers to cultivate rice for up to three seasons annually.
“Reliable water supply has transformed farming in this area. We can now grow rice three times a year, unlike before when we managed only one season due to water scarcity,” Chege said.
Beyond increased production, the expanded scheme has created jobs and improved livelihoods, with many residents returning to farming. Farmers say the project is vital to strengthening national food security and reducing Kenya’s dependence on imported rice.
Chege noted that although prolonged dry spells occasionally pose challenges, improved water management has ensured more equitable distribution across farms.
“We have put in place better water management systems so that all farmers can benefit, even during periods of low water levels,” he said.
He added that improved yields and returns have drawn back farmers who had previously abandoned agriculture. Chege also urged the government to consider building another dam along River Nyamindi to further support the scheme’s expansion.
Managed by the State Department for Irrigation through the National Irrigation Authority, the project aligns with national efforts to boost local rice production. Kenya currently produces about 304,000 metric tonnes of rice annually against a demand of roughly 1.3 million metric tonnes, creating a large import gap.
Chege said expanding irrigation schemes such as Mwea is crucial to narrowing this deficit and enhancing the country’s food security.
