Workers on a rice farm. [Photo/businessdaily]
The price of rice at Mwea Tabere irrigation scheme has dropped 40 percent on the onset of harvesting.
This means that retails prices will drop signalling relief for consumers who have been grappling with high costs.
A kilogramme of pishori at Mwea, is currently retailing at a low of Sh120 from a high of Sh200 last month
The high price had been attributed to a prolonged drought in the country that cut production by nearly two thirds.
Rice production at the scheme dropped from the average 830,000 bags yield in the season that ended in March to 332,000 bags.
“We are expecting good harvest this season and this has already impacted positively on the price with a kilo now retailing at Sh120 from Sh200 last month,” said Innocent Ariemba, Mwea scheme manager.
Mr Ariemba forecasts 650,000 bags of 100 kg will be harvested from 26,000 acres currently under crop.