From Sand Harvesting to Rice Farming, Murang'a Residents declare -

From Sand Harvesting to Rice Farming, Murang’a Residents declare

Post by : Ann Njambuya

In a dusty corner village near the border of Murang’a County and Kirinyaga county, Villagers are rejoicing after they made the move from sand harvesting to rice farming. Kimathi village is located in Kiharu Constituency, Murang’a county. The village sits on a plain bordering Sagana river.

Due to its proximity to the river, the village is prone to flooding. the only advantage of having a river close was that the villagers would engage in sand harvesting. However after almost 30 years of harvesting sand they realised that their fortunes were not changing. After much research, the area was declared to be fit for rice farming.

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This information came as a blessing to the villagers, who have now taken up rice farming in the majority.The now sleepy village has turn into a bustling urban centre as farmers are seen going about their daily business. Borrowing a leaf from their neighbours in the Mwea irrigation scheme. the farmers are planting the pishori and komboka rice variety.

Farmer spraying pesticides on rice plants. Murang'a Residents are rejoicing after making the shift from Sand Harvesting to Rice farming. — Photo//Farmer spraying pesticides on rice plants. Murang’a Residents are rejoicing after making the shift from Sand Harvesting to Rice farming. Rice is the third staple crop after Maize and wheat. Murang’a now joins the list of other areas like Mwea,Ahero and others.

Rice production

Murang’a county is now on track to joining the other rice producing counties in the country. According to sources who spoke to https://www.iconnews.co.ke exclusively. The rice growers association in the region has over 100 members and it is growing.

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Residents in the area are indicating that rice farming can indeed be very profitable as they are able to harvest more and more. The villagers now reckon that this new venture is more profitable than sand harvesting.