Rice farmers from the Mwea Irrigation Scheme have protested the government’s move to import 600 000 tonnes of rice, terming it a detriment to the hardworking farmers.
Speaking to the Media on December 19, the farmers said there has been a boon in rice products this season, and any attempts to import more grain will cost them.
Read: Government Allows Importation Of Duty Free Maize And Rice Days After GMO Fiasco
They said the brokers in the grain sector will take advantage of the imports by purchasing the premium Pishori rice products at extremely lower prices.
“Importing rice is like killing us as farmers. When they bring in imported cheap rice, where do they expect me to take my rice as a farmer?” posed one of the farmers.
Mwea Rice Growers Cooperative Society Ndege Muriuki said that the construction and launch of the Thiba dam had given a boost to them, and the government should show commitment to absorbing its products.
Read: Kenya To Import 10 Million Bags Of GMO Maize – Moses Kuria
last week, the government, through the ministry of Agriculture, approved the duty-free importation of 900 000 bags of maize and 600 000 bags of rice.
The state Department for Crop Development Principal Secretary Kello Harsama said the move is aimed at creating food security for the period between February and August 2022.
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