New initiative to boost Kano Plains rice yield...

The government will launch "gravity flow" irrigation method in rice fields to reduce high costs associated with pumping water in Nyando District.

Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma said this will boost rice yields in the Kano plains where rice crop is largely grown. Ranguma said Kisumu County is keen to adopt the modern technology of irrigation which does not require pumping the waters.

Ranguma said the National Irrigation Board currently pumps water to irrigate the farms which is very expensive. The governor, Israel Ambassador Gil Haskelto, Kisumu county commissioner Lorna Odero and Nyando district commissioner, Isaiah Tonui had toured the NIB in Ahero in June this year.

"We promised to control floods in Nyando by constructing huge dams and dykes along the rivers to facilitate the gravity flow irrigation technology", Ranguma said.

Haskelto said his team wants to establish challenges rice farmers face during floods and drought. The ambassador said this will reduce dependency on relief food by the residents.

He disclosed that Israel and Kisumu governments plan to strengthen rice farmer’s cooperative societies to boost their service delivery.

Haskelto promised to promote exchange study programs for farmers between Israel and Kenya to strengthen ties in the Agricultural sector.

Odero called the farmers to increase their farming activities to boost their earnings and adopt new farming techniques. She said this will enable farmers to market their produce effectively and discourage cartels.

Odero told the farmers to embrace horticultural farming as it will boost their income. The commissioner said diversification in farming will retain soil fertility.