Taveta rice farmers upbeat as irrigation authority pledges support

The government is keen on promoting the rice value chain in Taveta, Taita Taveta county, the National Irrigation Authority has revealed.

NIA is currently undertaking drainage works in the region that has continued to experience excess water as a result of underground streams from the nearby Mt Kilimanjaro.

The excess water at Buruma rice fields has consumed over three quarters of the 18,000 acres of land, leaving the farmers to use the remaining quarter to grow rice.

NIA Acting CEO Charles Muasya on Monday said they are targeting to spur the county’s potential for large scale rice farming to compete with leading rice producing areas in the country.

During a meeting with agricultural officials from the county at his Nairobi office, Muasya said plans are underway to upgrade the rice value chain in the region to address the deficit in the country.

“Taveta now joins our list of interested counties for rice production, and we are keen to identify areas of target which include establishment of a rice variety as well as ensuring farmers have access to certified seeds to help promote production,” he said.

He said the water-logged land will be opened up for both large and medium scale farming to increase food basket towards promotion of nutrition and food security in the region.

Muasya said Kenya produces at least 200,000 metric tons of rice annually which is half of the consumption demand, recording a deficit of between 500,000 to 600,000 metric tons.

To narrow the supply gap, the NIA boss said, the country needs at least 450,000 acres of land under production for it to be food secure.

Taita Taveta Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Irrigation executive Erickson Kyongo said the county has set aside funds for the coming financial year to help explore the rice production potential, which will include value addition.

“The funds will also help with the installation of a rice milling factory in Taveta. This will create job opportunities, promote the county's economy,” Kyongo said.

 The executive said the county has been losing revenue as farmers continue to languish in poverty due to over exploitation by middlemen.

He said the product has always been taken to neighbouring country Tanzania for value addition before it’s being sold back in Kenya at a higher cost.

“There is a need to boost the value chain so that farmers can fully benefit from rice farming. Hundreds of farmers are suffering in the hands of brokers,” he said.

Kyongo called on other investors to help tap into the county’s rich agricultural potential to help reduce food insecurity.

To support the rice farmers, the department is also in talks with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations  to offer capacity building to rice farmers.

The farmers will be supported on best agricultural practices, appropriate rice varieties, aggregation, value addition and marketing of rice.

A team from FAO that visited the farmers last month said they will marshal more resources in quest to unlock the agricultural production potential in Taveta subcounty.

“We envision commercialising rice farming for economic transformation and as an alternative source of livelihood to people in Taveta. As FAO, we will ensure we seek partnership with other development partners to achieve this,” Husna Mubarak, FAO official said during the visit.

Mubarak said there is a need for exchange programmes for farmers to understand what currently happens in Ahero, Bura, Mwea and other leading irrigation schemes to accelerate development of the rice value chain.