The government will install a Solar panel at Hola Irrigation scheme to reduce the cost of pumping water to the farms and increase acreage for crops production.
Speaking to the press today at his Hola office, the Scheme Manager James Kirimi said even though the project to install solar panel at Makere water intake will cost the government between Sh700m to Sh800 million it will reduce the cost of pumping water to the farms by using diesel generators that cost between Sh5m to Sh6 million per month currently.
The manager said, when the project is completed the acreage under crop production that stands at 5,000 acres currently will increase to 10,000 acres.
He also said, currently farmers in Hola irrigation scheme are growing crops such as maize, rice, green grams, cowpeas, sunflower among others.
Kirimi further said when many farmers are in the scheme food production will improve and reduce cases of food shortage in Tana River County.
