survey of the irrigation potential of the lower tana river basin kenya

vi
The findings of the survey confirm the results of previous investigations,
which have shown the possibilities of developing hydro-electric power at a succession
of points in the middle reaches of the Tana river. Suoh a network could
provide an installed capacity of 865 megawatts at a oapital oost of nine million
pounds sterling. It is expected that the inclusive cost per kilowatt of such
development would he lower than that of power from alternative thermal stations*
The demand for power in Kenya is expected to rise to 800 megawatts hy the year
2000. and as the present potential for hydro-eleotrio power from sources other
than the Tana river is only 18 megawatts, this points to the necessity for developing
power on the Tana river as soon as possible,,
In its lower reaches, the firm flow of the Tana river is shown to he 1,100
cubio feet per second, whioh is enough to irrigate 100,000 aores of land. The
regulation of flows for power would enahle the firm flow downstream to he inoreased
to 2,800 cubio feet aperrsecond hy the year 2000, enough for 250,000 acres of :
irrigation, ultimately, hy diverting flows from the Athi river, 330,000 aores of
suitable soils could be irrigated.
On groundwater, the report concludes that there is little or none available
in the projeot area, except in the perched water table to be found in the Tana
flood plain adjoining the river channel.
Since the cost per acre of irrigation development will be high, field trials
were concentrated on cash crops which could bring in fair to good returns. Except
for cotton, whioh had consistently given good yields over a number of years, trials
of other crops had not been carried out long enough to reaoh firm conclusions.
More investigation and testing remains to be done before a really sound oropping
pattern can be developed. Therefore, the report recommends, as a first step, the
setting up of a Research and Training Centre to be supplied with irrigation water
by pumping. This centre would be the first stage of development of the ultimate
irrigation scheme, and at the same time would investigate the cropping patterns,
conditions of tenancy and of cultivation, financial arrangements and all other
points involved in the successful development, operation and management of suoh
large scale schemes.
Concurrent with this first stage of development, the report recommends the
setting up of a semi-autonomous organization, to be called "The Tana River Irrigation
Authority" and to take charge of the soheme from the beginning. Its functions
would include construction and operation, marketing, research, extension and
training, mechanized cultivation and the processing of crops.