LBDA Targets 20,000 Acres of Rice as Ondago Records Historic First Commercial Harvest

The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has unveiled plans to expand rice production to more than 20,000 acres under the Kimira-Oluch Irrigation Scheme following the successful first commercial rice harvest at Ondago Swamp in Karachuonyo Constituency, marking a major milestone for agriculture in Homa Bay County.

The harvest, officially launched on Wednesday, comes just five months after rice cultivation was introduced commercially at Ondago Swamp, an area where the crop had not previously been grown on a commercial scale. More than 200 acres are now ready for harvesting, while over 5,000 acres have already been brought under production within the wider irrigation scheme.

Speaking during the launch, LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga said the project demonstrates the vast agricultural potential of the Kimira-Oluch Irrigation Scheme and could significantly strengthen Kenya’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported rice.

Ochiaga said the authority aims to expand cultivation to over 20,000 acres once rehabilitation of the irrigation infrastructure is completed. He noted that average yields of between 3.5 and 4 tonnes per acre could substantially increase domestic rice production and help narrow the country’s persistent gap between local supply and national demand.

Kenya continues to import a significant share of the rice consumed locally due to limited domestic production. Expanding irrigation schemes has become a key strategy for increasing food production, improving food security, and reducing the country’s import bill.

Beyond boosting food production, the Ondago project has created new economic opportunities for local communities. Ochiaga said the initiative has generated employment for youth, women, and men while stimulating business activities linked to farming, harvesting, transportation, processing, and marketing.

He added that LBDA has invested across the entire rice value chain. Paddy harvested from the scheme is processed, packaged, and marketed through the authority’s rice milling plant in Kisumu, promoting value addition and creating additional employment opportunities.

The Managing Director attributed the project’s progress to collaboration between the national government, the Homa Bay County Government, and private sector partners. He acknowledged the contribution of Green Tech Hub Limited in production management and agronomic support, Syngenta in crop protection, and Tingaling in mechanisation, alongside other partners providing technical expertise.

Despite the encouraging harvest, Ochiaga said farmers continue to face several challenges, including inadequate water supply, crop damage caused by quelea birds, and limited access to affordable financing. He noted that LBDA is working with the county government to rehabilitate sections of the Kimira-Oluch Irrigation Scheme that have remained largely non-functional for more than two decades following years of neglect and vandalism.

He assured farmers that the authority would continue supporting production through improved access to farm inputs, stronger market linkages, and increased private sector investment.

Joash Oloo said cooperation between the national and county governments remains essential for implementing large-scale irrigation projects. While agriculture is a devolved function, he noted that major irrigation infrastructure falls under the national government, making partnerships with agencies such as LBDA critical to expanding agricultural production.

Oloo said the county government continues to strengthen extension services through ward and sub-county agricultural officers and operates a Climate Information Centre that provides farmers with weather forecasts, planting schedules, and crop management advice through a toll-free service.

To support mechanised farming, he announced that the county has acquired six tractors and encouraged farmers in Ondago to establish a cooperative society. He said one of the tractors would be allocated to the group once it is formally organised, helping improve land preparation and increase productivity.

Green Tech Hub Limited Chief Operations Officer Helen Orwa said the project has demonstrated the impact of coordinated partnerships, noting that the land had been transformed from an idle swamp into productive rice fields within a few months.

With rehabilitation of the Kimira-Oluch Irrigation Scheme continuing, stakeholders believe the project has the potential to become one of western Kenya’s leading rice production hubs, supporting rural employment, strengthening food security, and contributing to the country’s long-term goal of increasing local rice production.