Bura Irrigation Scheme Expands From 5,000 to 135,000 Acres
The Bura Irrigation Scheme has recorded significant growth since the current administration assumed office in 2022, with the area under irrigation increasing from 5,000 acres to a potential 135,000 acres.
Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho attributed the expansion to the completion of a gravity-fed irrigation system, which has boosted water supply from three to 11 cubic metres per second.
The new system has also eliminated the scheme’s dependence on diesel-powered pumps previously used to draw water from River Tana, improving water delivery for agricultural activities.
Speaking during a tour of the scheme, Kimotho revealed that Bura was also expanding beyond its traditional focus on rice farming by introducing sugarcane production.
He said sugarcane cultivated in the area was expected to produce approximately 50 tonnes per hectare within a 10-month maturity period, compared to an estimated 25 tonnes per hectare in some traditional sugarcane-growing regions.
According to Kimotho, the favourable growing conditions and improved irrigation infrastructure have positioned Bura as a promising area for increased sugarcane production.
The expansion is expected to diversify agricultural activities within the scheme while boosting food production, creating economic opportunities and strengthening the country’s agricultural sector.
