Kirinyanga mashujaa - Kibicho spend a month to organize it - let see

[RV Pundit]

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Happy to see Ruto recognize the real Mashujaa
Who is the last woman - Chelangat Mutai - but definitely that solid list of real heros.

[RV Pundit]

Raila is campaigning in national event. He turns Mashujaa day into campaign rally to endear himself to Mt kenya.

[hk]

 Alfred Nderitu the most consequential legislator from Mwea https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/central/article/2001426688/former-mwea-mp-recalls-birth-and-rise-of-ngurubani-town, a true hero. If wasn't for him mwea and parts of kirinyaga would be wasteland. Liberalizing agriculture not subsidies or inane minimum guarantees is the reform needed to ignite economic recovery.   

[RV Pundit]

But rice is still protected - Kenyans are sustaining Mwea - my wife insist on us buying Mwea - it very expensive - gov has put lots of taxes on rice - it almost a contraband.

If we allowed asian rice - or even uganda - they will overrun mwea.

For every little Ngurubaini - Somalis have made tonnes of money smuggling rice from Kismayu

Alfred Nderitu the most consequential legislator from Mwea https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/central/article/2001426688/former-mwea-mp-recalls-birth-and-rise-of-ngurubani-town, a true hero. If wasn't for him mwea and parts of kirinyaga would be wasteland. Liberalizing agriculture not subsidies or inane minimum guarantees is the reform needed to ignite economic recovery.   

[RV Pundit]

Ruto now addressing - get biggest cheer.

[RV Pundit]

Rice farming is takataka kweli....Mwea should grow vegetables. Kenya are being taxed 75 percent to underwrite rice farming. Maize, Sugar and rice farming has sent many poor to permanent poverty - no wonder kenya is not making a dent on poverty.

Kenya implemented a special duty tariff of 35 percent for Pakistan and 75 percent for other origins. He asked concerned authority to give the preferential duty tariff to Pakistani rice, so that exporters can increase the rice exports volume to Kenya.

[hk]

But rice is still protected - Kenyans are sustaining Mwea - my wife insist on us buying Mwea - it very expensive - gov has put lots of taxes on rice - it almost a contraband.

If we allowed asian rice - or even uganda - they will overrun mwea.

For every little Ngurubaini - Somalis have made tonnes of money smuggling rice from Kismayu

Alfred Nderitu the most consequential legislator from Mwea https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/central/article/2001426688/former-mwea-mp-recalls-birth-and-rise-of-ngurubani-town, a true hero. If wasn't for him mwea and parts of kirinyaga would be wasteland. Liberalizing agriculture not subsidies or inane minimum guarantees is the reform needed to ignite economic recovery.   

Before farmers were forced to sell to irrigation board just as Maize farmers sell to cereals board. Yes I agree it should be fully liberalized with minimum tariffs. Kenya doesn't produce enough rice to satisfy local demand. Mwea farmers can focus on aromatic rice that your wife prefers. The arbitrage of different prices is what importers exploit, there are rice millers whos business is to import cheap rice and mix it with mwea rice making serious cash. 

[RV Pundit]

This is why I rather we subsidize fertilizers than output. Why cant rice farmers produce as cheaply as asians. It simple. Asians apply 5 times the fertilizers. Our poor farmers have no capital to buy 5 bags of fertilizers. We need to subsidize fertilizers - and then lift all tarrifs and taxes - and we will save money - prevent somalis and conmen from benefitting from it. Rice is cheaper in Somali than Kenya.

The best way to lift agricluture is simple - provide farmers with subsidized farm inputs - through farmers bank - like KFA.

KFA/KGGCU used to work wonders under Mzungu and all until 90s.
 

Before farmers were forced to sell to irrigation board just as Maize farmers sell to cereals board. Yes I agree it should be fully liberalized with minimum tariffs. Kenya doesn't produce enough rice to satisfy local demand. Mwea farmers can focus on aromatic rice that your wife prefers. The arbitrage of different prices is what importers exploit, there are rice millers whos business is to import cheap rice and mix it with mwea rice making serious cash. 

[vooke]

Send the bloody rice farmers into extinction.

Good thing is, rice is not exactly national staple so protection had minimal inflationary effects

But rice is still protected - Kenyans are sustaining Mwea - my wife insist on us buying Mwea - it very expensive - gov has put lots of taxes on rice - it almost a contraband.

If we allowed asian rice - or even uganda - they will overrun mwea.

For every little Ngurubaini - Somalis have made tonnes of money smuggling rice from Kismayu

Alfred Nderitu the most consequential legislator from Mwea https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/central/article/2001426688/former-mwea-mp-recalls-birth-and-rise-of-ngurubani-town, a true hero. If wasn't for him mwea and parts of kirinyaga would be wasteland. Liberalizing agriculture not subsidies or inane minimum guarantees is the reform needed to ignite economic recovery.   

[RV Pundit]

Consumption is rising. It going to replace half the maize consumption. It easier to cook and digest. So it's good as lunch food. Dinner will remain ugali for mwafrika.

Send the bloody rice farmers into extinction.

Good thing is, rice is not exactly national staple so protection had minimal inflationary effects

[vooke]

Not at the current prices.

If rice was liberalized together with maize then perhaps we may shift

Consumption is rising. It going to replace half the maize consumption. It easier to cook and digest. So it's good as lunch food. Dinner will remain ugali for mwafrika.

Send the bloody rice farmers into extinction.

Good thing is, rice is not exactly national staple so protection had minimal inflationary effects

[RV Pundit]

It a real pain especially for poor - who basically live for food. I dont understand how gov cannot bite the bullet - tell a few mwea people to grow vegies or tomatos - and zero rate all rice.

I am glad maize has been left on it's own device. And importing maize especially from TZ and Uganda is tariff fee - you pay something like 60bob per bag.

Dont try to import rice or sugar - KRA will kill you - if you're even allowed.

Removing rice, sugar and maize controls - will half the cost of food - and biggest beneficiary will be urban poor - at least rural poor can grow their own food.

Not at the current prices.

If rice was liberalized together with maize then perhaps we may shift

[hk]

This is why I rather we subsidize fertilizers than output. Why cant rice farmers produce as cheaply as asians. It simple. Asians apply 5 times the fertilizers. Our poor farmers have no capital to buy 5 bags of fertilizers. We need to subsidize fertilizers - and then lift all tarrifs and taxes - and we will save money - prevent somalis and conmen from benefitting from it. Rice is cheaper in Somali than Kenya.

The best way to lift agricluture is simple - provide farmers with subsidized farm inputs - through farmers bank - like KFA.

KFA/KGGCU used to work wonders under Mzungu and all until 90s.
 

Before farmers were forced to sell to irrigation board just as Maize farmers sell to cereals board. Yes I agree it should be fully liberalized with minimum tariffs. Kenya doesn't produce enough rice to satisfy local demand. Mwea farmers can focus on aromatic rice that your wife prefers. The arbitrage of different prices is what importers exploit, there are rice millers whos business is to import cheap rice and mix it with mwea rice making serious cash. 

Subsidizing and protectionism are both terrible. The true cost of production should be reflected on the market price of a product. Farming just like any other economic activity shouldn't be subsidized. Having Specialty subsidized credit line e.g KFA or development bank isn't the solution. Overall cost of credit should be addressed which means everyone credit is market priced. Otherwise what's point of increasing productivity driven by public subsidy, its like shifting money from one pocket to another.

[RV Pundit]

That too would work. However I am not sure if commercial banks will be willing to loan poor farmers money. If not - then gov has to set up a farmers bank - loan money to farmers - and work with farmers - until they harvest - and take their money - and re-invest next farming season. This is better and sustainable - because gov has to inject capital once.

Subsidizing and protectionism are both terrible. The true cost of production should be reflected on the market price of a product. Farming just like any other economic activity shouldn't be subsidized. Having Specialty subsidized credit line e.g KFA or development bank isn't the solution. Overall cost of credit should be addressed which means everyone credit is market priced. Otherwise what's point of increasing productivity driven by public subsidy, its like shifting money from one pocket to another.