First maize harvest kicks off at revived Galana Kulalu irrigation scheme

Harvesting of the first maize crop at the Galana Kulalu Irrigation Scheme began on Saturday, marking a major milestone for a project that has been judged a failure only two years ago.

The Galana Kulalu Food Security Project, in the sprawling government land in Kilifi and Tana River counties, is being implemented under a public-private partnership.

The exercise highlights the success of the public-private partnership model between the government and Selu Limited. Of the initial 1,500 acres planted has yielded between 28 and 30 bags of seed maize an acre.

This follows tremendous government investment in irrigation infrastructure, including a 20,000 cubic metre intake well, 2km water canal, 550,000 cubic-metre reservoir and a 20,000 cubic meter offtake pump.

Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eric Mugaa attended the start of harvesting at the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project.

"The Galana Kulalu project is on track to become a food hub for Kenya, supporting the government's Bottom Up Economy Transformation Agenda to make the country food secure and reduce the Ksh.500 billion annual food import bill. We are committed to its success and the first crop we are harvesting today is evident of that," CS Mugaa said.

He explained that 330 of the 1,500 acres will be harvested in the next five days. He also pointed out that Selu Limited would be able to cultivate 6,300 acres with the water provided by the two small dams already built.

"However, the long-term plan is to build a large dam in Galana whose water can irrigate 200,000 acres. This way, we will be food secure," the CS explained.

The private investor in the project, Selu Limited, has so far planted 1,500 acres and plans to expand to 3,200 acres by the end of 2025, and eventually 5,400 acres by June 2026.

The investor will later progressively increase land under cultivation to 20,000 acres as more water for irrigation is made available.

Selu Limited CEO Nicholas Ambanya said the project has created about 200 jobs, and more Kenyans will be hired as the area under production expands.

Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, who had accompanied the Cabinet Secretary, said: "This project has proven that, with irrigation, arid and semi-arid lands can help us in ensuring food security."

The PS also disclosed that the government is working with other partners, who are interested in putting under cultivation 180,000 acres.

National Assembly Water, Irrigation and Blue Economy Committee Chairman Kangogo Bowen said he was satisfied that the funds they had provided for irrigation infrastructure at Galana had been well used.

He pointed out that Parliament would continue to provide the funds necessary to support the project.

Others present at the project during the start of harvesting were National Irrigation Authority Chairman Gilbert Maluki and CEO Charles Muasya.

The first harvest at Galana Kulalu marks the start of a journey aimed at sustainable production of high-quality seeds, fulfilling the government's commitment to building a robust, resilient, modern and irrigation-based agricultural sector.