The Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Committee led by chairperson James Kamau have led public participation in Mwingi North on the mung beans bill.
Residents from Tseikuru and Ngomeni took part in the public participation forum to better their lives as farmers who plant green grams.
The bill is an act of Parliament to provide for the development, regulation and promotion of the mung beans sector and connected purposes.
Farmer Victor Kirharya said the bill should include the distribution of the best pesticides to maintain the quality and quantity of the crops.
"Our roads are also so poor and the connectivity to the market is a major challenge, we also want better roads in our area," he said.
They have also decried the poor price of the commodity where they sell a kilo of the green grams up to Sh30 per kilo.
"We need the government to source a proper market for us and do away with brokers," farmer Munanye Kimanzi said.
The residents said the bill should include the formation of cooperatives for the farmers to better their market bargain and also benefit from loans.
"We need the bill to capture value addition to the crop, we need to package it here also for the creation of jobs to the community," resident Munanye Muli said.
Senator Kiio Wambua, who has sponsored the bill said it includes a clause where the government will buy the crops from farmers to aid in school feeding programs and to defence officers too.
Kiio said farmers will also be registered for easier access and benefit of extension services adding it will be a joint venture between the county and the national assembly.
The chairperson said the bill intends to make dengu a cash crop that will compete even in the international markets.
He said bearing the area is so dry, he will push for a mega dam to be sunk in the area.
He also urged the MPs to pass the bill once it's tabled on the floor of the assembly.
Residents said they plant different varieties of green grams and are not doing so well.
Those present in the event included vice chairperson Alexander Mundigi who is also Embu Senator, Bungoma Senator David Wakoli, ODM Nominated Senator Beth Syengo and Tseikuru MCA Kimanzi Muange among other leaders.
