For decades, the farmers of Nyando have watched their potential wither under the scorching sun or rot in floodwaters. But the tide is turning. The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has launched a massive rehabilitation of the Dajo irrigation canals, a project that promises to transform Nyando from a flood-prone disaster zone into Nyanza’s rice basket.

The intervention by LBDA is not just about digging trenches; it is a strategic economic rescue mission. Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga has sounded the battle cry, urging farmers to triple their production now that the water infrastructure is being fixed. The project targets the "broken triangle" of agriculture in the region: unreliable water, lack of certified seeds, and market inaccessibility.

Fixing the Plumbing of Prosperity

The rehabilitation works are focused on declogging and expanding the canals that feed the rice paddies. For years, siltation and neglect had rendered thousands of acres fallow. With the new infrastructure, water flow will be consistent, allowing for two planting seasons a year instead of one dependent on erratic rains.

• Stabilizing Prices: "Production can only improve if we address water, markets, and inputs together," Ochiaga declared. To back this up, LBDA has committed to buying rice directly from farmers, cutting out the predatory middlemen who have exploited Nyando’s producers for generations.
• Certified Seeds: The Authority is also distributing high-yield certified seeds to replace the recycled, low-quality grains that have suppressed harvests.

The Political Will

Nyando MP Jared Okello has thrown his weight behind the project, emphasizing that this is the only sustainable solution to the region’s poverty. "We must move from relief food to food production," Okello stated. He is pushing the national government to complement LBDA’s efforts with larger flood control dykes along the banks of Lake Victoria.

A Race Against Time

However, the ghost of the past lingers. Previous irrigation projects have stalled due to funding cuts and corruption. The farmers of Dajo are cautiously optimistic but remain vigilant. They know that a canal on paper does not water a crop. The LBDA must deliver this project on time and on budget.

If successful, the Dajo scheme could be the blueprint for food security across the Lake Region. For the farmer in Nyando, seeing water flow through a clear canal is not just infrastructure; it is the promise that their children will not go to bed hungry.