Cheap rice imports choke small town’s Sh13b economy

Traders waiting for buyers at Nice Ricers Millers. [Kamundia Muriithi, Mt Kenya Star]

Massive rice imports mainly from Pakistan have chocked the economy of Ngurubani town in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, which is the biggest grower and supplier of rice in Kenya, slowing development and pushing farmers to diversify into other crops.

Mwea region produces about 100,000 tonnes of rice, which is 80 per cent of what Kenya produces.