By Calvin Awora
A team from the State Department of Irrigation visited Siaya County to initiate discussions with county officials, led by the Chief Officer for Agriculture, Miss Elizabeth Adongo, on the rollout of the Smallholder Irrigation Program.
The initiative aims to expand the area under irrigation across the county while unlocking its vast agricultural potential. Anchored on a farmer-led approach and supported through a blended financing model, the program seeks to empower farmers to take a central role in irrigated agriculture.
By placing farmers at the heart of implementation, the initiative is expected to enhance ownership, sustainability, and long-term impact. Currently, only about 10% of Siaya’s irrigation potential has been realized, underscoring a significant opportunity for growth. Scaling up such interventions could greatly boost agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, and improve livelihoods for local communities.
Further engagements between the National and County Governments are expected to guide the co-design and implementation of the program, ensuring it is practical, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.