Bura and Tana Rivers Irrigation schemes, the next rice producers

Bura and Tana Irrigation schemes will be the next largest rice producing areas.

The ongoing infrastructure is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

According to the National Irrigation Authority, the government aims to increase the current rice production of 240,000 tonnes per year to more than one million tonnes per year by 2030.

The national rice demand is at about 1.1 tonnes per year, while the current area under rice production is at 80,000 acres.

Bura and Tana Irrigation schemes are traditionally known for growing cotton but farmers have long shifted to rice farming.

Stephen Njaramba has been farming at the Bura Irrigation Scheme for more than forty years.

He said he started with cotton but due to various challenges including poor prices, low production and lack of market for the produce, he abandoned the crop and shifted to cotton seed farming.

“I moved to Bura Irrigation Scheme in December 1983 and I have been farming at the scheme since then. By then, cotton farming was doing well but things changed and many farmers abandoned the crop. We got into farming other different sorts of crops without much plan and profit. But from 2017, many farmers shifted to rice farming,” he said.

Njaramba said they started growing Basmati rice varieties but this did not do so well and production was low and the quality was poor.

“Our fortunes changed when we started growing the Komboka rice variety, which put money into our pockets. We started seeing a change and improvement in farming in the scheme,” he said, adding that this has also attracted farmers from other regions who are adopting rice farming.

Komboka rice was developed through a collaboration of Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, the International Rice Research Institute and National Irrigation Authority.  It was launched in late 2020, promising about seven tonnes per hectare (28 bags/acre). 

A farmer can harvest 45 bags of 100 kg in one acre compared to Basmati which can yield 20 to 25 bags. The ratoon harvest can produce 20 to 30 bags.

Njaramba noted some challenges hindering production of rice in the area including delay in the distribution of fertiliser which forces farmers to buy expensive fertiliser from the agrovets.

“Marketing of our product is also a challenge. I urge the government to provide a National Cereals and Produce Board store in Bura, where farmers can sell their produce and get better prices. This will help us shun brokers who exploit farmers,” he said.  

A kilo of paddy rice is selling at Sh58 per kg.

Farmers have also diversified to other crops such as watermelon though they cited scarcity of water for irrigation.

Abdihakim Adan grows watermelon in three acres. He said he has so far harvested 10 tonnes (10,000 kgs) from one and half acres.

“The yields depend on the availability of water and on how much effort a farmer has expended,” Adan said.

He harvested 20 tonnes from the three acres and was able to make Sh30,000 with a kg of watermelon selling at Sh30.

Rogert Indimuli is a trader who buys watermelon from farmers in Bura and sells it in Marikiti market, Nairobi. 

He said currently, there is a shortage of the produce and he is not able to get enough to sell, plus the quality of the fruits is also low compared to other times. 

Production of watermelon in the area has reduced due to inadequate water for irrigation.

Initially, Indimuli would make a profit of at least Sh10 for every kg of watermelon but this has reduced and he is only making about Sh2 to Sh3 per kg.  

“Business is becoming a challenge because the profit has reduced, yet you still have to comply with the government's requirements to trade any agricultural produce in Nairobi plus the cost of other logistics such as transport have also increased,” said the trader.