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The County irrigation directorate will leverage on its technical expertise as well as indigenous knowledge while surveying and developing designs for the proposed Irrigation and Land Reclamation projects, County Executive for Agriculture, Pastoral Economy and Fisheries Philip Aemun has said.

He noted that collaborating traditional information would boost modern technological designs and ensure establishment of climate proofed Irrigation and Land Reclamation farm infrastructure that will ensure sustainable water access to the cropping area hence improved and nutrition security.

CEC Aemun was speaking today when he toured Naurien Puu surface irrigation scheme to witness the ongoing survey and designing of the 138 Hectares scheme, being undertaken by engineers and officers from directorate of Irrigation and Land Reclamation.

Once rehabilitated and improved, the scheme will directly benefit 568 farmer households from Nauren Puu and Nakesio villages in Turkwel ward, Loima Sub County.

The irrigation directorate is also undertaking surveys on flood protection works at the 180Ha Naremit Irrigation scheme, Tudukae drip irrigation and plans construct an in-situ rain water harvesting structures at Urum, all in Loima Sub-County.

He stated that the County Government is currently doing survey and design for 20 irrigation and Land Reclamation projects and that, an additional 613 hectares will be put under irrigation while 380ha will be reclaimed for rain fed agriculture in a month long process that started last week.

CEC Aemun called on the community to support implementation of the Government investment projects adding that the department will reclaim more land for crop production to benefit more residents with a focus on surplus production of food.

He advised farmers to ready themselves for diversification of livelihoods saying that the changing climatic conditions called for adaptation into different environments that accommodates both farming and livestock production.

County Director for Irrigation and Land Reclamation, Chammah Lotome, said that department is doing survey on deferred projects early enough, so that they can be advertised, awarded and completed within the stipulated timelines in this financial year.

In Turkana South Sub-County, the Irrigation and Land Reclamation department has earmarked construction of a 20Ha in-situ rain water harvesting and management (RWHM) structure in Kalapata,establishment of a 5Ha each drip irrigation at Lokwaliwa  and Naakot in Katilu ward and Lobokat ward respectively.

An ex-situ structure will be constructed in Kalemungorok and flood protection works for Koputiro surface Irrigation scheme will also be undertaken.

Lining of Canal in Elelea, construction of 40Ha ex-situ RWHM structure in Napeitom and proposed 5Ha drip irrigation scheme at Kapedo is set for Turkana East.

Establishment of 80Ha drip irrigation schemes in Kanamkemer and Kangatotha together with flood protection works on the 130Ha Nangitony irrigation scheme has been budgeted for Turkana Central Sub-County.

The County Government will establish 40Ha of spate irrigation in Nawountos, a drip irrigation scheme at Lokirieriet in Lokichoggio, an in-situ water harvesting structure in Nanam and repair the 40Ha Lomidat spate irrigation farm in Turkana West.

Construction of ex-situ water and harvesting structure will be done in Kibish while residents of Nakinomet in Kaaleng/Kaikor ward will benefit from construction of 40Ha spate irrigation project in this financial year.

Construction of water pan by National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) to support pastoralist in Lopeipuke village at the border of Katilu and Kaputir wards in Turkana South will commence soon after the site handover to contractor.

The water pan is part of the integrated landscape management, water harvesting and spate irrigation project being funded by World Bank and implemented by the County Government to support more than 57,000 people. It’s divided into a water and soil conservation through sustainable land management as well as construction of a water pan.

Implementation of the water pan project will enable nearby pastoralist community to get access to water for their livestock and domestic water by reducing the trekking distance.

Completion of the pan will supplement water deficiency in the area of 116,812.775 metres cubic by constructing a pan with a volume of 117,360 metres cubic.

County Executive for Agriculture, Pastoral Economy and Fisheries, Philip Aemun, said that the world bank funded project would enhance effective livelihoods diversification as it would support food production as well as pasture for livestock.

He lauded residents of Kalemngorok and Kaputir for embracing the project and that it was a move in the right direction considering that the site was once a battlefield for cattle bandits.

CEC Aemun thanked the National Government for peace stability in the region and urged residents to support implementation of Government projects.

The County executive noted that the 80HA farm which is part of the Multi-Community Investment Project has created employment program for 800 youth and enabled 100 households to plant and harvest sorghum from the farms established with soil and conservation structure.

CEC Aemun spoke today when he led a team from the department of Agriculture together with local leaders in site handover for the proposed construction of Water pan that will benefit residents of Kaputir and Katilu wards.

He stated that the County Government would continue advocating for livelihoods diversification on farming and livestock rearing because of the changing climatic conditions.

CEC AEMUN said that the project would put value addition to livestock chains product by increasing goat/sheep productivity and profitability through integrated landscape management, water harvesting and spate irrigation.

He expressed optimism that proper implementation of the 97 million project was selected by the County Government as part of its food security agenda through an inclusive approach that caters for farming and at the same time bolstering livestock production.

County Chief Officer for Agriculture and land Reclamation Jacob Lolelea said that successful implementation of the project would help in surplus food production because of the peace stability being enjoyed in the region.  He warned the contractor against shoddy works noting that members of the public must get value for the money invested in the project.

The land scape management system is geared to increase land productivity and improve livelihoods by ensuring appropriate practices that enables land users to maximize the economic and social benefits from the land while maintaining the ecological support functions of the land resources.

Katilu ward MCA James Abei said that establishment of farms that has arable agricultural soil had created job opportunities for hundreds of youths in the area that had been abandoned initially because of insecurity.

NARIGP County coordinator Joseph Ekalale said that the project will enhance sorghum and livestock value chains.

Others who spoke included County Agriculture Director Paul Lokone and Turkana South Sub-County administrator Alexander Losikiria, among others.

County Executive Committee member (CEC) of Tourism, Culture and Natural Resources, George Emoru Emojong, said the use of technologies like the absorbent polymer for water retention in grow indigenous trees and sorghum will assist the county in reforestation and enhancing food security.
Speaking at the launch of the project at Lodwar Energy Centre – Nadapal-Nauriebu, the CEC also encourage residents of the county to plant more trees.
“We should plant trees to return Turkana as it was before with forests and full of wildlife. The destruction of the forests has led to climate change and also wildlife has migrated,” says CEC Emoru.
He further added that planting of trees is a collective responsibility which includes all government entities and the community working in partnership.
The research project, with a second site in Bishop Mohan area, is being done by Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) and University of Edinburg. Apart from the planting of indigenous trees, the research will study the use of the same polymer on sorghum variety that is dual purpose; fodder and grain.
The Chief Officer of Agriculture, Dr. Jacob Lolelea said, “sorghum is an indigenous food for our people by adopting agricultural technologies then we can expand the arable land in the county.”
“With only 10 grams the polymer can retain water for up to three weeks, the research would like to know if it can work in such extreme areas like Turkana,” said Dr David Langat, the head of KEFRI Rift Valley Eco-Region.
He added that the research was expected to run for two years. He also appreciated the county government for partnering in the project to ensure its success.
In attendance was Research Scientist KALRO Kabete – Engineer Fabian Kaburu, KEFRI Deputy Regional Director for Rift Valley – Jesse Owino and Head of KEFRI Lodwar – Dr. Edward Mengich.

County Government efforts to achieve food security agenda received a boost as World Food Programme (WFP) donated eight motorcycles and ten hand-held tractors worth Kshs10.1 million.

The equipment will support extension officers in collaborating with County Government departments under the Sustainable Food System Program to improve access to projects sites to implement, monitor and coordinate joint activities.

County Executive for Agriculture, Pastoral Economy and Fisheries Philip Aemun together with Chief officers, Dr. Jacob Lolelea (Agriculture and Land Reclamation) and Abdullahi Yussuf (Fisheries and Livestock Production), received the hand-held tractors and motorbikes that would also be distributed to County Disaster and Trade departments.

In his remarks, CEC Aemun said that the equipment would strengthen the capacity of the County Government on resilient livelihoods programs that are aimed at uplifting the welfare of the residents of Turkana.

He stated that the county government was committed to strengthening of agriculture through extension services and innovative means that would aid self-reliance through production of surplus food.

This, he said, would be done through interrogation of existing gaps that would provide robust roadmap geared towards having a sustainable farming system. He called for consideration of climate change factors while drawing designs for the partnership projects.

CEC Aemun informed the WFP officers that the department of Agriculture was leveraging on mechanised and commercial agriculture to bring more land under crop production for sustainability of livelihoods programs.

Under the partnership agreement, the county government and WFP have aligned their work plans to support the achievement of the joint goal of zero hunger as articulated in the County Integrated Development Plan 2018-2022 and WFP’s Country Strategic Plan 2018-2023.

Dr. Jacob Lolelea noted that the program have so far been impactful to communities and assured that the department would continue working together with WFP to successfully implement projects under the Sustainable Food System Program.

CO Abdullahi Yussuf thanked the partners for support and added that the motorbikes would enhance effective service delivery.

WFP Head of Lodwar Field Office, Ruth Amatala, said that the equipment donation were aimed at supporting extension services adding that the organisation would offer training on its usage.

Present during the launch were Directors Chammah  Lotome (Land Reclamation), Bobby Ekadon (Livestock Production), Deputy Directors Rachael Aroo (Administration), David Namwaya (Fisheries) and  Wilson Ejie (Trade).