Naduat and Turkwel – 4th October 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

Residents of Nakalale and Turkwel Wards have officially taken over the Naduat water pan and irrigation respectively. 

This marked the commencement of the projects implemented by Emergency Locust Response Program (ELRP) and funded by the World Bank. The projects’ objectives were livelihoods restoration, mitigation of damages caused by desert locusts and drought and to strengthen early warning systems for preparedness in the county. 

In her address, Chief Officer for Agriculture and Land Reclamation Janerose Tioko assured the community of the department’s support towards the projects to ensure its timely completion and handover for use as per the plans.

“These projects align with Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai’s commitment to providing water for residents and Livestock to achieve food security. 

The completed project in Naduat will guarantee sustainable access to water for livestock and with the complete rehabilitation of the Turkwel scheme, our purpose is to ensure more land is put under Irrigation in Turkwel to enable farmers produce more for livelihood sustainability and food security,” CCO Tioko said.

She continued to urge the farmers in Turkwel to take advantage of the efforts put in place by the County Government and partners to ensure increased yields.

The CCO appreciated the farmers as well as ELRP for the project and noted that the produce from the scheme will contribute immensely to Turkana’s food basket to realize the Governor’s agenda of food security. 

“Being a crucial project, H.E Jeremiah Lomorukai is particularly keen to ensure it is completed in time for the benefit of the community,” she emphasized.

ELRP Project Coordinator, Victor Lochee, appreciated the collaboration with the County Department of Agriculture in implementing the projects.

“ELRP has injected 36 Million shillings for the two projects to benefit residents of Naduat and Turkwel hence the need of the community to own and make use of the projects to ensure sustainability,” Lochee said.

Members of County Assembly Dedan Kalima (Nakalale) and Stephen Edukon (Turkwel) appreciated ELRP and the County Government for implementing the projects in their Wards, which they said will go a long way to improve the livelihoods of their community.

“We will look into additional budgetary allocation to similar projects that address food security and upgrading farmers’ livelihoods,” they said.

Upon completion, the Naduat Project is set to benefit residents who have access to water through the water pan, while the scheme will promote irrigation farming among the smallholder farmers in Turkwel. They were assisting in mitigating against and building the resilience to climate change, leading to an increase in food security in line with ELRP’s Objectives.

CCO Tioko thereafter proceeded to Naremit for a community engagement session on the Naremit Irrigation scheme that is set for revamping.

With her technical team, the CCO noted the priority areas of need in the scheme that needed to be addressed for its sustainability, as posed by the community in Naremit.

Ag. Director Irrigation and Land reclamation Peter, Loima Sub-County Jackson Apenyu Imana, Nakalale Ward Administrator Moses Kanayo and a team of engineers from both National and county government also witnessed the project handovers at Naduat and Turkwel.