Japan Provides Irrigation Loan to Kenya

Japan will provide KES12bn ($149m) to Kenya to build an irrigation system to boost food production in the country.

The loan will expand the Mwea Irrigation System, which currently irrigates about 30,000 hectares of farmland.

The loan has been extended to the African nation to help it double rice production within ten years, starting from 2008, to minimise its dependence on imports.

Kenya will also receive a KES2.2bn ($26m) grant from Japan to build a water treatment plant and distribution pipes in Embu town, about 120km north east of the capital Nairobi.