KISUMU, Kenya, Jan 29 – Farmers in Nyando Constituency have been urged to take advantage of improved irrigation infrastructure to increase food production and household incomes, following the launch of canal rehabilitation works at the Dajo irrigation scheme by the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA).
Speaking on Thursday, LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga said the project addresses longstanding challenges affecting rice production, including unreliable water supply, limited market access, and low-quality seed.
“Production can only improve if we address water, markets, and inputs together,” Ochiaga said, adding that LBDA is buying rice from farmers to stabilize prices and encourage higher acreage.
The current phase, funded through LBDA’s internally generated revenue, focuses on restoring water flow in clogged canals, while discussions with the national government aim to mobilize resources for canal expansion and flood control along Lake Victoria.
Nyando MP Jared Okello welcomed the initiative, urging farmers to intensify rice and horticultural farming now that water availability is improving, and emphasizing the need for sustained investment to improve livelihoods in the flood-prone region.
Farmers expressed optimism that the works, combined with better access to certified seeds and inputs, would result in higher yields and more stable incomes.
