President William Ruto has announced the first major maize harvest from the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project in the coastal region of Kenya.
The harvest is taking place on 330 acres within Kilifi and Tana River counties, with an expected yield of 28 to 30 bags per acre.
He said that to date, 1,500 acres have been planted. By year-end, an additional 1,700 acres will be under cultivation, bringing the total to 5,400 acres.
Ruto also linked these gains to the broader agricultural reforms his administration is pursuing.
“Our investment in the Galana Kulalu Food Security Project in Kilifi and Tana River Counties is now bearing fruit,” the President posted on X. “Today we begin the first major maize harvest on 330 acres, with each acre expected to yield 28 to 30 bags.
Already, 1,500 acres have been planted. By the end of this year, a further 1,700 acres will be under cultivation, bringing the total to 5,400 acres.
This progress, together with our broader agricultural reforms, is driving Kenya towards food security and enabling us to produce surplus for export.”
The Galana Kulalu project was conceived as a major irrigation-based farming scheme across Kilifi and Tana River counties, meant to turn semi-arid lands into productive agricultural zones under a public-private partnership model.
In recent years, the government has renewed focus on the scheme by investing in water infrastructure, land preparation, and private sector participation.
Related developments include a recent injection of KSh 12.5 billion by private partners to expand the project.
Meanwhile, government sources say the scheme, once at full scale, could span up to 1.5 million acres and support multiple crops beyond maize.
If the momentum continues, Galana Kulalu could become a major pillar in Kenya’s strategy to reduce reliance on food imports, stabilize domestic crop prices, and generate exportable surplus.