A total of 300 rice farmers in Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme of Migori County have benefited from 3 Tonnes of free Rice seeds worth over Shs. 0.5 Million, courtesy of the county Government of Migori,
The initiative, Mosenda noted, is the beginning of an elaborate and collaborative effort by the county government and partners to boost rice production in the region.
The CEC further revealed that the county government of Migori has identified Nyatike as an area with high potential for rice farming and that the county leadership has a plan to turn round the crop’s production rate to reduce over reliance on imported rice.
“As a government, the Nyatike region is an area of high interest when it comes to rice production. We have therefore put plans to ensure that rice farmers within this region are provided with enough inputs so that they experience high production and income,” explained Mosenda.
This move will not only reduce additional expenses in rice production and processing but also creates job opportunities for the locals in the county and other counties neighbouring Migori.
“When we finally put up rice milling plants here in Nyatike region, we will be creating job opportunities for the youth in our county and our neighbours,” Mosenda said.
Peter Ochar, a rice farmer in Lower Kuja Nyatike Sub-County, hailed the county government for the support, noting that such inputs will help reduce the cost of production and also encourage others to venture into rice farming.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Migori County government led by our governor Dr Ochilo Ayacko in providing us with these high-quality rice seeds,” he said.
However, Ochar expressed concerns about the limited rice markets and delays in payments from national firms and cooperatives as they take more than expected time.
He revealed that at times payments take up to six months or more to be made thus making their lives unbearable and also hinder them from preparing their farms in time for the next season.
Samson Oremo, chairperson of the Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme, echoed these challenges, adding that the low market price and interference from the middlemen forces farmers to sell their rice for as low as 40 shillings per kilogram of rice, a move that is only benefiting the brokers.
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