Modern farm machinery introduced in Mwea

A Japanese company – MOL has carried out field demonstrations on its efficient and modern tractors as part of the ongoing mechanized rice farming process  at  the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kirinyaga County .

The machines which impressed the farmers during the one day demonstration held within the vast irrigation scheme yesterday are modern, efficient and cost effective according to MOLs Project  Manager  Mikio Oyama.

MOL's Project Manager  Mikio Oyama  with one  modern and efficient cost effective  rotavators which were on demonstration at the Mwea Rice  Framers Irrigation scheme ,Kirinyaga County yesterday 

Oyama which was part of the technical team at the scheme when the demonstrations were taking place, said the machines were lighter as compared to others which get stuck into clay soils while preparing the land.

“Our machines are modern, efficient, economic and easier to operate and ideal for the Mwea Irrigation scheme  as compared  to others in the market ,”Oyama said .

Accompanied  by senior MOL officials during  the demonstration  Oyama  said his company had also produced  a  rice crop weeding machine which can even be operated  by  one .

MOLs  Nairobi  Head office  in-charge of Logistics Srikaanth Sreenivasan  who was also present  said  users of the machinery were guaranteed of sales and after sales services .

The  company  Managing Director  for the Karasawa Agricultural Machinery Services which produce the MOL  equipment  Mr Takeyuki  Karasawa  personally carried out the mini combine harvester demonstration at the fields   to the applause by the farmers  present .

He also said  the company’s technical division would  be available to provide training to all the farmers who bought the modern machinery .

A farmer from the scheme Michael Muchiri said he was impressed by the high efficiency of the machines and their cost effectiveness.

Muchiri said other than the good performance on the clay soils , the machines were easier to operate especially the mini combine harvester .

A fleet of the  modern , cost effective and  efficient rotavators which were put on  demonstration at the Mwea  rice irrigation scheme . The machines    are being retailed in the  country by MOL  company

“The weeding machine for the rice fields is so simple to operate such that even young children can handle it with ease, as we move towards full mechanization of rice farming in our scheme, “he said.

The scheme  started in 1956 produces about 80,000 metric tons of paddy rice and this is scheduled to be dubbed once the two crops per year program is introduced  at the completion of the Thiba mega dam.

Mechanization of the scheme will also improve on production of the grain , according to Oyama.