Mung Beans Bill: Unlicensed large-scale farming to attract Ksh.1M fine

This is according to the Mung Beans Bill 2022 which proposes a framework for the implementation of national policies on the development and regulation of the mung bean industry.

The Bill bars the sale of the beans, colloquially known as Ndengu, without obtaining a license from an individual's county government.

Contravening the aforesaid provision will be considered as committing an offence and any found persons will be liableto pay the fine or face an imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

Likewise, the Bill dictates that the licenses shall be issued by appointed County Executive Committees (CECs) consisting of a chairperson, one person representing growers of mung beans in the respective county and 3 public officers in the agriculture department.

Every member shall also be required to maintain a register of all mung bean growers registered in the respective county specifying; the name of the grower, the location, size and parcel number of the land on which the mung bean is grown and the variety of mung bean grown.

Each county is however given the liberty to determine the criteria for the registration of a grower operating in their county.

The Bill dictates that these regulations shall be done between the Agriculture and Food Authority, Agriculure Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja and the Council of Governors.

Part of their mandates will be to put in place measures to improve the overall production of mung beans in the country and establish linkages with international research agencies for the adoption of best mung bean farming and processing practices.