TANA RIVER IRRIGATION SCHEME
Background
Tana Irrigation Scheme is the oldest National Irrigation Authority scheme having started in 1953. The Scheme gazette area is 12,000 acres. The initially developed area was 900 ha (2,500 acres), and the scheme has a possible extension area of 12,000 acres.
The current area under irrigation is 4,700 acres with the current number of farming families (households) being 1,050 registered farmers therefore a population of about 6000 persons depend on this project for their livelihood.The scheme collapsed in 1989 when Tana River changed its course, and was revived in 2009, rehabilitation which was funded by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) and the Government of Kenya.
Location/County
Tana River County
Year of establishment
1953
Gazetted Area
12000 Acres
Main Crop
Maize
Area under Irrigation
4700 Acres
Source of irrigation water
River Tana
No. of household farmers
1050 Households
Type of irrigation
Water is abstracted through pumping, conveyed and distributed in open earth canal and applied through furrow irrigation system
Other Crops
Cotton and other horticultural crops