Mutahi Kagwe: Irrigation, Large-scale Farming Key to Ending Kenya’s Food Crisis

The government has intensified its push for irrigation-led, large-scale agriculture as recurrent droughts and climate uncertainty continue to undermine rain-fed farming.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has said Kenya must urgently adopt scientific, technology-driven and digital farming systems to raise productivity, especially in ASAL regions.

At the centre of the strategy is the 1.8 million-acre Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project, reserved strictly for mechanised, irrigated, large-scale farming.

The CS warned that land subdivision would defeat mechanisation and efficiency, stressing that large-scale irrigation is critical to reducing heavy food imports and stabilising supply.

Through the Land Commercialization Initiative, the government is inviting local and international investors under a transparent, competitive framework, while promoting strong community integration and economic linkages.

He also highlighted private-sector investments such as the Nyumba Group’s large-scale irrigation projects as benchmarks for resilient, technology-driven farming in ASAL areas.

The Galana-Kulalu Food Security Project is Kenya’s ambitious, multi-phase plan to transform vast lands in the coastal region into a productive agricultural hub.

It is aimed to achieve national food security, reduce imports, and boost exports by developing large-scale, irrigated farming for maize, sugarcane, livestock, and horticulture, leveraging private investment and infrastructure development.

After initial phases faced delays, the project has seen renewed focus and progress with private partners (like Al-Dahra, Selu Ltd) developing acreage, alongside key infrastructure (roads, power) by bodies like KeRRA and REREC, with recent activity highlighting the start of harvests and significant government commitment.