Rice farmers from Mwea irrigation scheme in Kirinyaga want the government to impose a tax on imports to give them a lifeline.
They have been stuck with rice stocks for years that they have been struggling to sell due to cheap imports.
This is despite efforts over the years by farmers and the government to boost rice production.
For instance, the government established the Sh8.2 billion Thiba dam that was financed in partnership with the Japan International Co-operation Agency.
The dam had a storage capacity of 15 million cubic metres of water. It helped expand irrigated land in the scheme from 25,000 acres to 35,000 acres, and provides a stable water supply throughout the year.
Mwea Rice Multipurpose Cooperative Society chairperson Ndege Muriuki on Wednesday said cheap imports have dampened the market for the local produce, leaving farmers grappling with reduced returns.
“Normally, we sell a kilogramme of unprocessed rice at between Sh90 and Sh100, but now we are forced to sell at Sh85 because imports have flooded the market,” he told the media.
When processed, the prices rise to Sh180 per kilogramme due to processing costs, reducing the produce’s competitiveness against imports that sell at Sh100 per kilogramme.
Imposing a tax on the imports, he said, would level the ground and enable the local produce to enjoy a section of the market, boosting returns for farmers.
In August, the High Court stopped the government’s plan to import 500,000 tonnes of duty-free rice following a petition filed by the Farmers’ Party on behalf of the growers.
Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe published a gazette notice announcing the importation would be done until December 31, sparking uproar among rice farmers.
Justice Edward Muriithi allowed the state to import 250,000 tonnes and gave it until October 31 to procure the imports.
He also implored the government to ensure locally produced rice is bought before turning on foreign produce to fill production deficits.
Rice stocks at Mwea Rice Multi-purpose Co-operative Society’s stores in Mwea, Kirinyaga county.The government had told the court that farmers produce 264,000 tonnes against a demand of 1.3 million tonnes.
But the cooperative’s stores are still full to the brim even as the farmers expect a bumper harvest of 100,000 tonnes this season.
“Today, we should be cleaning our stores in readiness for the new harvest but unfortunately, they are still full,” Muriuki said.
Last year, farmers faced a similar glut after the government imported another batch of 500,000 tonnes of duty-free rice, making it impossible for them to sell their produce.
The chairperson expressed fears that continued importation of duty-free rice will cripple the economy of Mwea, which is heavily dependent on the crop.
The saturated market has been dampening farmers’ motivation, with Muriuki noting that soon, they will be unable to cultivate the crop because of poor sales.
“We are still feeling the effects of the imports that were brought in last year, and now more have been added. This is financially incapacitating them and leaves them with no money in their pockets,” he said.
Farmer David Kamuto from Karaba said the low absorption of their rice into the market is disheartening as it negates the back-breaking work they do on their farms.
“This will take us years back when we were impoverished by poor prices if it’s not stopped. We are crying out to the government to help us sell our produce,” he said.
John Mutunga, another farmer, said the government should prioritise locally produced rice before considering imports.
He said it’s counterproductive for the government to invest heavily in infrastructural development aimed at raising their production only for their produce to remain unsold.
by ALICE WAITHERA
