Hundreds of rice farmers in Taveta subcounty, Taita Taveta county, have agreed to join a cooperative society to eliminate brokers and increase income.
Farmers said the rice cooperative will play a central role in bargaining for better prices and taming brokers who for many years have invaded the sector.
During a meeting with county government officials in Taveta on Wednesday, they stressed the need to lock out brokers who buy their grain at a throwaway price.
"It is sad that brokers are taking advantage of our disunity to exploit us. Brokers from Tanzania buy our unpolished grain for as low as Sh30 per kilo," farmer Dismas Kilonzo lamented.
He said their rice is processed and brought back to the market at an exorbitant price.
Apart from the low buying prices, Kilonzo said, some of the brokers also take the unprocessed rice at a debt thus fuelling poverty among farmers.
"Sometimes these middlemen go without paying all our money and this has caused a lot of problems. Time has come for all farmers to be under one umbrella," he said.
The farmers have also agreed to partner with the Taita Taveta Investment and Development Corporation (TTIDC) for standardised pricing.
Farmer Hamza Idd said many rice farmers were forced to sell their produce to brokers and middlemen to offset debts owed by local lenders.
Idd said, however, the introduction of the new cooperative and partnership with TTIDC will cushion farmers from exploitation by unscrupulous lenders.
"Many farmers have taken loans from lenders and shylocks to produce rice. This forces them to sell at low prices to pay back the money," he said.
Agriculture executive Erickson Kyongo said the rice cooperative society will help streamline marketing and pricing of the grain for better returns.
This comes as the area's rice milling plant nears completion.
Kyongo said the Sh40 million rice factory will be a big relief for hundreds of farmers who have been selling unpolished rice to brokers.
"The factory is nearing completion. It will help farmers produce high-quality rice that meets the standards and preferences of consumers," the executive said.
The rice factory will also produce byproducts such as rice bran and rice husk that can be used for animal feed and fuel, thus boosting farmers income.
Kyongo said the department is also assisting farmers produce high quality grain and reduce post-harvest losses.
“We also want to ensure farmers are consistently assisted, protected and reduce post-harvest losses, eliminate predatory cartels and boost farmer earnings," he said.
An estimated 10-15 per cent of rice is lost to post-harvest operations in developing countries, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
The losses are attributed to poor handling, storage, transportation, pests, diseases and weather.
The executive said plans are underway for draining excess water at the waterlogged Buruma rice fields.
The National Irrigation Authority will undertake the draining exercise to open the area for both large and medium scale rice farming. The 18,000 acres rice field is the largest rice growing area in Taveta.
The county is targeting to attain at least 30,000 acres projection of rice production annually upon reclaiming the land.
Trade executive Getrude Shuwe said TTIDC will buy unpolished rice from farmers at fair prices to boost their income.
She said the county has been losing revenue as farmers continue to languish in poverty due to overexploitation by middlemen.
"TTIDC will buy the grain from farmers immediately after harvest. This will help control prices and help farmers reduce losses," Shuwe said.
She said the department is keen on helping the farmers establish a strong cooperative that will benefit all members.