•The government will buy rice from farmers in two irrigation schemes to promote production, achieve food security
A total of has Sh100 million has been allocated to buy rice from farmers in two irrigation schemes.
The farmers in Kimira Oluch, Homa Bay, and Ahero in Kisumu, will be paid within two weeks of delivering their crop.
Nyanza regional commissioner James Kianda, Sylvance Osele of the President’s Delivery Unit and Lake Basin Development Authority officials Raymond Omollo (director) and Odoyo Owidi (chairman) on Thursday said the government is determined to promote rice farming.
Omollo said buying rice will cushion farmers from incurring losses because of lack of market. He spoke to farmers during an assessment tour of the Kimira Oluch project.
Some 197 acres are under rice at Kimira Oluch project. The total acreage of the irrigation scheme is 3,642 acres in Rangwe and Karachuonyo constituencies. The Sh5.6 billion Kimira Oluch water project targets 3,000 farmers.
Omollo said the government will provide tractors, fertiliser and other farm inputs to the farmers at affordable cost.
The director said the area has favourable climate, good soil and sufficient water to support rice production. “We want to uplift small-scale farmers not only from subsistence farming but to enable them achieve full economic benefits. Modernising agriculture will increase farm activities and make Kenya food secure,” Omollo said.
Owidi said farmers will be paid within two weeks after delivering their crop. He said rice farms will be insured to reduce risk of losses.
“Agricultural officers and experts will start training farmers in early April on pest and disease trends and how to control them,” Owidi said.
Kianda urged farmers to form groups for easy management. “Kimira Oluch irrigation scheme is one of the areas where the government wants full utilisation to achieve the food security agenda,” he said.
The officials urged farmers to diversify crops. “We appeal to farmers to not only utilise water for crop production but also livestock farming,” he said.
Rice farmers Rose Akumu and John Omondi said crop production will rise if the market is available.