Mwea paddies chocking on snails amid gov't plans to import duty-free rice
A farmer sprays pesticides on rice plantation infested by snails. Photo| Johnson Muriithi/Citizen Digital
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The rice farmers, led by Joseph Kamau and Peter Njogu say the snails were first discovered in Tebere section and they have tried to eradicate them by spraying chemicals, but they have even spread to other section of Wamumu, KarabaNguka ,Thiba and Ndekia.
Peter Kamau said they have used all methods, even hand-picking them and their eggs but it has proven very difficult. To date, the farms continue to choke with snails slithering on the rice paddies.
“We have even used tobacco and employed people in our farms to hand pick them in vain, even the government tried a certain chemical to kill the pest but the snails increased rapidly and became fat,” Kamau said.
The farmers have resorted to using dangerous chemicals from the neighbouring country saying local chemicals are not weakening them.
“We are still having chemicals that were provided by the government in our stores because they are not killing snails but we have resorted to buying the so-called 'dangerous' chemical from our neighbouring country,” Stanley Irungu from Mutithi Jua Kali section said.
Mutithi ward MCA Jinaro Njamumo, who is also Deputy Speaker in the County Assembly of Kirinyaga said snails are reproducing very fast and target recently planted rice.
“They are using dangerous and harmful chemicals because nobody is helping them,” the Deputy speaker said.
The Mutithi ward MCA said he had been advising his people to avoid using those chemicals from the neighbouring country and brokers because of the potential risk to their health and the environment – all in vain.
The farmers experience challenges at a time when the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture intends to import 500,000 tonnes of duty-free rice. According to the government, the rice currently produced in Mwea and other areas are not sufficient for the country’s food needs.
The importation plans have met resistance from Mwea farmers, who accuse government of betrayal after plans to support local production of rice.
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