Kenya’s Mung Bean Law Debate Emphasizes Farmers’ Vulnerability – Global Issues
KITUI, Kenya, Oct 17 (IPS) – World Food Day 2024
Kenyan farmers have faced a tumultuous year, caught between law changes and a scandal. Although the country’s Mung Bean bill, which seeks to regulate the profitable mung bean industry, has moved away from mediation, farmers are fighting the spread of fake fertilizer that has threatened their crops and livelihoods.
The Mung Bean Bill is a response to the rise of the crop in Kenya. Locally known as “Ndengu,” mung bean has gained momentum due to its drought-resistant nature and high demand in both the domestic and international markets. This law aims to create a framework to stabilize prices, standardize quality, and ensure fair trade practices. However, many farmers fear that this bill will add to existing problems without addressing important issues such as the recent fraud of fertilizers.
Among those affected is Lucy Mutuku, a small farmer from Kibwezi, a dry region in Eastern Kenya. With a heavy face and hands hardened by years of hard work, Mutuku stands in his field, explaining his decision to go into bean farming. “It was a division strategy,” he says, his voice carrying the determination of someone who has seen a lot of harvest. “Mung beans are drought resistant and using organic manure helps improve soil fertility. Even with variable rains, they provide a reliable source of protein for my family and surplus for the market.”
Mutuku’s journey turned into one of many victims of the Government’s government-sponsored fertilizer scheme. “Buying artificial fertilizers has always been expensive,” he recounts, his face full of frustration. “When I heard about the government’s fair price election, I bought it immediately. But then I realized it was fake. My crops failed, and it’s disappointing because farming is my only income.”
The impact of this scandal has spread, as the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) reported that fake fertilizers made up about 20 percent of the crops this season. This affected a variety of crops, including beans, corn, and vegetables, hurting small farmers who have been caught in a cycle of debt and uncertainty.
In Makueni district, Beatrice Mwangi, another farmer, invested heavily in soybeans, hoping for a good harvest. His eyes showed a mixture of hope and despair, he remembers when he saw the extent of the damage. “I was expecting a big harvest,” he said, “but my plants didn’t grow. When the agriculture office confirmed that the fertilizer was genuine, it was a disaster.” Now, like many others, he is struggling to repay the loan he took out to buy appliances, facing a financial crisis that threatens his family’s future.
Dominic Mbithi in Kitui, one of Kenya’s desert areas, chose beans because of the lack of water. Mbithi, a robust man in his forties, uses zai pits, shallow basins that catch and conserve water. “This method helps me use more water,” he said, crouching next to one of his pits, examining the soil. Despite the challenges, he was able to increase his harvest and even ventured into value addition by producing bean flour, which he sold to local schools and health centers.
Over in Taita Taveta, Joyce Mwikali switched from maize and sorghum to beans. A determined woman in her fifties, she walks around her sandy farm with a pride that belies the struggles she faces.
“Beans have a short growing season and thrive here,” he explained. Through crop rotation and the use of compost, Mwikali has been able to reduce his dependence on rain-fed agriculture. He now participates in a cooperative that helps with market access, ensuring better prices for his product.
Michael Muriuki, who farms on the eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya in Meru, uses drip irrigation to maintain a constant supply of water to his beans during dry spells. In a thoughtful manner, he shares how this extra income has helped him invest in better equipment. “Drip irrigation and integrated pest management have changed my mind,” he said, gazing at the neatly lined plants.
In Tharaka-Nithi, Lydia Njeri started planting mung beans to combat the effects of climate change on traditional crops. By using early planting and certified seeds, he improved home nutrition and found a reliable market for his many products.
“Selling to processors who make soybean products like noodles and flour gives me a little money,” he notes, his speech soft as he describes the positive changes in his community.
Although the National Assembly has rejected the Mung Bill of 2022, in the second stage of reading supporters argue that it can provide a regulatory framework to protect farmers from fake agricultural products.
However, critics like Dr. John Mburu, an agricultural economist, warned that the law alone is not enough. “We need a comprehensive approach,” he stressed, “including strong enforcement against counterfeit products, educating farmers, and better quality control infrastructure.”
The bill will now go to mediation, according to the National Assembly.
The farmers’ stories underscore the deep weaknesses within Kenya’s agricultural sector. While the Mung Bean Bill may offer a glimmer of hope, immediate action is needed to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve farmer awareness, and ensure the authenticity of agricultural inputs. The future of these farmers—and the nation’s food security—depends on it.
As the debate continues, the voices of farmers like Mutuku, Mwangi, Mbithi, Mwikali, Muriuki, and Njeri must guide the development of policies that truly support and protect Kenya’s agricultural community. Only then can such problems be prevented in the future.
The 2024 Mung Bean Congress, held in Bangkok, Thailand, brought together 110 participants from 23 countries. The gathering was a forum to share current research and discuss future priorities, including studies supported by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Dr. Eri Huttner, ACIAR Plant Research Program Manager, emphasized the potential impact of their investment in bean development research in partner countries, highlighting the growing global importance of this crop.
As the debate continues, the voices of those most affected—farmers—should not be ignored. Their experience and insights should be at the forefront of developing policies that truly support and protect Kenya’s agricultural community. This method is important to prevent such problems from happening again.
Back in 2013, the United Nations adopted a resolution declaring 2016 as the International Year of Drag. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) led the initiative, which greatly increased public awareness of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pulses while emphasizing its role in sustainable food production.
Building on the success of this celebration and recognizing the power of pulses to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Burkina Faso has proposed the celebration of the World Day of Magic. Therefore, in 2019, the National Assembly declared February 10 as World Pulses Day, emphasizing the important role that pulses play in global food security and sustainability.
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
