Rice farmers in the Bunyala Irrigation Scheme to diversify to curb diseases

By WINSLEY MASESE

Rice farmers in the Bunyala Irrigation Scheme have disclosed plans to switch to other varieties of the crop. The move is meant to ward off diseases for aromatic and low demand for non-aromatic varieties.

Officer in Charge Joel Tanui said they were monitoring the situation keenly to come up with a lasting solution.

“We are carrying out trials to recommend to farmers the appropriate time to plant,” he said.  One such option, he added, is for farmers to plant the aromatic species, mostly Pishori in May, and possibly harvest in October and November. Tanui said one such outcome is the right time to plant Pishori rice. “Though aromatic, it’s vulnerable to preventable diseases, which can wipe out the entire crop,” he warned.

This, he said, has discouraged some farmers from growing the crop hence the need to balance between the two varieties.

Marketing strategy

Besides disease infestation, he cited lack of a specific and organised marketing strategy as another factor leading to unpredictability in pricing.

“The other issue revolves around lack of an organised marketing strategy, especially for non-aromatic rice, because there is no specific time when rice should be marketed,” he stated.

Mid this year, a number of farmers in Ahero and Bunyala irrigation schemes were stuck with their crop due to lack of a market. Uganda is the main importer of the rice but following closure of the border, some farmers have had the rice in stores to date.

In 2012, the farmers earned more than Sh190 million from 52,000 bags of rice, mostly exported to Uganda.