KENYA – Kenya’s President William Ruto has officially commissioned the Lake Basin Development Authority Rice Mill Project in Kibos, Kisumu County, marking a significant step in enhancing the region’s rice production and value addition.
The project, which aims to boost local rice production, increase farmers’ earnings, and strengthen national food security, was launched with the government’s commitment to supporting rice farmers across Kenya.
Speaking at the event, President Ruto underscored the importance of empowering local farmers by providing infrastructure that adds value to their produce.
“We will support our rice farmers so they can produce more, earn more, and feed more Kenyans,” he affirmed.
The state-of-the-art rice mill, with a processing capacity of 4,000 tonnes per hour, will operate three shifts daily, five days a week, throughout the year.
This new facility is expected to mill approximately 28,000 metric tons of rice annually, revolutionizing rice farming in the Lake Basin region.
According to the president, the project aims to promote rice cultivation on over 6,000 acres of land across the Chiga, East Kano, and West Kano irrigation schemes, directly benefiting more than 10,000 households.
Additionally, it will provide a crucial boost to farmers from the Nyando and Ahero irrigation schemes by offering an alternative to selling unmilled rice to brokers who often exploit them.
President Ruto emphasized that the mill would alleviate several challenges faced by local rice farmers, including the lack of value-added infrastructure and broker exploitation.
By enabling farmers to process their rice locally, the mill will ensure they receive fair prices for their produce, ultimately increasing their earnings.
Additional measures to support farmers
In addition to commissioning the rice mill, the President highlighted the government’s plans to invest in modern irrigation infrastructure, provide access to affordable credit facilities, and supply high-quality seeds to farmers.
These measures aim to increase productivity, reduce production costs, and enhance overall food security in the country.
The Lake Basin Development Authority Rice Mill Project is part of the government’s broader strategy to increase local food production and reduce dependence on imports.
The commissioning of the rice mill comes at a critical time when Kenya is looking to enhance its food security amid global supply chain disruptions and rising food prices.
Kenya’s demand for rice has been steadily rising, with annual consumption growing at an estimated rate of 12% per annum, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya currently imports around 70% of its rice, which the government aims to significantly reduce through local production initiatives.
The increased production capacity in Kisumu is expected to meet a significant portion of this demand, easing pressure on imports and improving the country’s balance of payments.
The government also hinted at plans to replicate similar projects in other rice-growing regions, including Mwea, Tana River, and Bura, to make Kenya self-sufficient in rice production by 2030.
With this initiative, President Ruto reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector, which remains a critical pillar of Kenya’s economy.
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