Rice farmers in Ahero Irrigation Scheme have called upon the Ministry of Agriculture through the National Irrigation Board to help them identify ready market for their produce.
They said they can also be helped by opening a National Cereals and Produce Board deport within their areas to help them properly store and market their rice.
Speaking in Ahero, the farmers cried foul over lack of ready market and storage facilities for their produce that often results into massive loses every time.
The groups of farmers from both Ahero and Awach-Kano have been overtaken by stiff competition from the cheap imported rice they claim has flooded the market.
One farmer and official from Kola Obura farmers group Tobias Otieno said despite of them having a good harvest, a lot of that go to waste due to various post harvest challenges as most of them are forced to individually store the produce for some time awaiting better prices.
Otieno said the Ahero rice is no longer favorable to the locals because they prefer other brands from the Middle East like Basmati rice which they consider is of better quality.
He said most of the farmers would accept to sell to the middlemen since they need quick cash to prepare for the begging of the next season.