President William Ruto has officially commissioned the Ksh150 billion Mweru Umoja One irrigation Project.
Speaking earlier today, the President said the project is part of the government’s deliberate plan to shift from rain-fed farming to irrigation to boost food production and expand economic opportunities within the agriculture sector.
“In the next five years we want to cut down the money we use to import food by 50%. We want to remove Ksh250 billion from our budget of importing food and in ten year we want to ensure we feed the nation using local produce,” he stated.
The Mweru Umoja One irrigation Project will put more than 500 acres of land under irrigation, benefiting over 5,000 farmers.
With a significant investment of KSh150 million, the Mweru Umoja One irrigation project is expected to boost agricultural yields, improve food security, and enhance the livelihoods of thousands of farmers in the region.
The commissioning of this irrigation project represents a milestone in empowering local farmers, providing them with the necessary infrastructure and resources to increase productivity, generate income, and contribute to the overall development of the agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Water and Irrigation has made a commitment to increase area under irrigation by 60,000 in the year 2024. The Mweru Umoja Project will be of significant aid to the realization of this goal.
President Ruto was accompanied by Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH, Governor Kawira Mwangaza, MPs and MCAs.