rice farming

RICE FARMING. JANE MUGAMBI 23RD AUGUST 2013. Principal Secretary Ministry of agriculture Cecily Kariuki has said illegal importation of rice in Mwea will be a past ones the government comes up with a policy. Speaking during a tour to Kirinyaga County on Thursday, she said that stopping of rice imports will bring sanity in the rice market in Mwea. Ms. Kariuki added that disorganization that has been there has made rice farmers anguish in the market since it is liberalized. “My visit is to make sure that I get the ailing issues in rice farming, my discussion with the governor will bear fruits ones a policy has been formulated on controlling the price and importation of substandard rice” said Kariuki. She said that her ministry is seriously concerned by disorganized nature of rice marketing in the country but she was quick to point out that her ministry is addressing the issue. She said that Rice farming has to be taken seriously citing that 60% of rice that is consumed in the country comes from Mwea where adulteration has to be stopped. Ms Muriuki said that the matter of rice import and counterfeiting needs government effort but she was quick to point out that her ministry was aware of the problem saying that she has decided to face the problem head on and come with a lasting solution. “We have decided to come on the ground and engage with all stakeholders we understand the issues and be able to come up with interventions that are going to help our farmers”. She said. She revealed that the government through donor support has initiated a couple of programs to support rice farming in the expansive Mwea irrigation scheme. She assured farmers that the programs and projects that have already been initiated by national government will proceed as planned noting that national government will continue to maintain engagement with county government. “Importation, counterfeits come with intervention that will support in food security so as to improve their livelihoods” she added. Mwea rice irrigation scheme in Kirinyaga County produce 80% of rice consumed in the country 110,000 metrics tons. However unscrupulous business takes the opportunity to flood the market with cheap rice which affects farmers market. Kirinyaga governor Joseph Ndathi revealed that the agricultural sector has been allocated 109 million shillings that will be channeled in boosting various agriculture projects. He lamented that the 2.8 billion shillings allocated to County government is very low revealing that 243 million shillings will revert to the national government to cater for grants and loans of ongoing projects in the County. “As a County we reserved 109 million shillings for agricultural sector, as you can appreciate Kirinyaga County we received a budget allocation of 2.8 billion shillings which is too low for many projects we are planning to initiate”. Ndathi said. Ndathi urged the government to deal with rice market problem decisively so that farmers can be able to enjoy the fruits of their labors. ends... 0723321326

60% ON ILLICIT BEER TAKING. JANE MUGAMBI 13THAUGUST 2013. Lack of workers in Kirinyaga County has been attributed to the high indulgence and the increased taking of illicit brewing. According to the statistic released by NACADA, 60% the age of 16-35years both girls and boys are consuming either second generation or illicit brew. NACADA also released that 15% are girls between the ages bracket of 20-35 citing that adolescents have also turned to taking second generation beer since it available. “Second generation taking has increased in adolescents, youths who are between the ages of 19- 10% to 15% rising concerns” said NACADA representative in Kirinyaga James Gachoki. Gachoki said the most affected group is between the age of 16-35 yrs both boys and girls attributing the high number to peer pressure. He also said that 60% of the youths are taking bhang,18% family men and men taking, beer,2% are taking other narcotics like cocaine heroine where the 18% has attributed o family break up,divorces . Gachoki has said that vigorous campaign against drug taking abuse so as to sensitize the youths and other drug users knows the danger. “I cannot address the drug issue alone,otther stakeholders need to join NACADA to sensitize,inform those that are abusing drugs are in danger” he added. In the past leaders from all quotas in the county have been blaming the police, administration for not taking “Mututho” laws seriously ensuring that bars are opened at the right time (5pm-11.00pm) and also issuing licenses to operators who do not meet the required standards. Ndia Mp Engineer Stephen Ngari showed his fury when he told the area administrators to be on the lookout for bars that are selling beer against the required time.re Ngari said that it is very worrying seeing youths drunk as early as 6am wondering where the brews are bought if the bars are closed at 11pm and opened at 5pm saying that there other dens that are selling illicit and second generation brews contrary to the time. Kirinyaga County has four licensed brewing industries which have increased the production of cheap and substandard beer. County liquor licensing board has reduced the bars by half so as to minimize the increased intake in beer and also trying to bring sanity in the county. Ends... 0723321326

STOVE JIKO IN KIRINYAGA. JANE MUGAMBI 9TH AUGUST 2013. A prominent businessman from Kirinyaga County has been awarded a certificate by an Italian university after introducing a cooker stove jiko as a way of conserving the environment. Charles Njiru Nice rice millers director better known as Mkombozi was given the certificate by Luigi Polonini a student who was doing a research on a modern cooker (jiko) that used rice husks on behalf of his university. “I am presenting a recognition certificate to Charles for allowing me to use my skills and developed a modern cooker that uses Rice husks” said Luigi. The award is to recognize his effort to recycle rice husk which has been an environmental hazard in the expansive Mwea rice irrigation scheme. Luigi said that Nice Rice miller has become a research centre and also a learning center for many people from different countries serving in different ministries on the appropriate technology for environmental management in developing countries in Africa. Nice Rice Millers management has managed to help the farmers in the rice irrigation area to recycle the husk which is going to be a source of fire to them. “We came up with such cookers to show people that rice husk is also an alternative a source of fire like firewood, gas” revealed Luigi. Speaking to press in his premises in Mwea after receiving an award Njiru termed the certificate as a motivator for him and also a recognition which is going to help farmers and other people use husk. Njiru pointed out that rice waste management which has been a problem will now be a thing of the past in Mwea and farmers will be able to use the waste for their domestic use. “Rice husk disposal was a problem for a very long for rice farmers, now we have a solution” he added. He revealed that he has also received government commendation on food and agriculture organization from the United Nation world food day 2012, Head of State commendation in line with vision 2030. The director said that with the new technology environmental conservation will be enhanced since many people will not use firewood for domestic use thus felling of trees is going to be minimal. The cook jiko will manage pollution as farmers, adding that the Jiko is available to farmers at 1,500/- a price he said is affordable to most of the farmers in the area per piece. ENDS............................................... 0723321326