The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) plans to put up a new rice milling machine in Kibos, Kisumu East, to revamp aging ones.
Cabinet Secretary for East Africa Community and Regional Development Peninah Malonza said the new milling machine will revolutionize rice farming in the region with a move aimed at growing wealth creation amongst farmers.
Malonza, who visited the site where the assembling of the new machine is taking place, said farmers have over the years complained of obsolete machines. “This machine once fitted will relieve farmers of long queues and prevent them from selling unpolished rice outside the country,” the CS said on February 23.
She assured farmers who have suffered in the hands of middlemen that the new machine will give them hope of planting more rice.
“The machine in use had a mill capacity of 3.5 tonnes of rice per hour when new but because of wear and tear the capacity has reduced to not more than a tonne per hour,” she said.
The CS said the new machine has the capacity to mill 4 tonnes per hour and comes with new features that will enhance its efficiency. “The new mill will greatly assist farmers from the schemes of Ahero and Nyando irrigation areas thus spur economic growth. It will be ready for commissioning by President William Ruto in a month.”
Accompanied by LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga, Malonza said the new mill will help the Authority generate more income and help in running its activities. Also according to CS, it will spur value addition and promote the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) under the Kenya Kwanza Government.
“This is going to be one of the projects to spur one of our economic pillars under BETA by promoting food security in the region,” she said
Ochiaga on his part said farmers and locals will benefit from the new venture.
By Fredrick Odiero
