A multimillion shilling rice mill will be installed at Usonga, Siaya County to help curb exploitation of local farmers by foreigners who buy the unprocessed crop at throw away price, Governor, James Orengo has said.
Speaking during the ground breaking ceremony for construction of the rice factory at Siriwo village, Orengo lamented that for years, local rice farmers have been forced to sell their products to unscrupulous traders from the neighbouring Uganda due to lack of a processing machine.
He said that the project that will be funded by the county government to the tune of Sh 55 million, will enable the farmers’ process their crop and come up with ready to sell finished products.
“There is huge potential to earn more from the rice after processing and value addition,” said Governor Orengo who was flanked by among others Usonga member of the county assembly, Sylvester Madialo, his Siaya township ward counterpart, Obiero Otare and agriculture county executive committee member, Sylvestre K’okoth.
Orengo said his administration was committed to leverage on the county’s agriculture potential so as to make the area food secure and commercially viable.
Apart from the construction and installation of the rice mill, Orengo said that his government will also rehabilitate the Mulwa rice drying floor and improve drainage challenges facing the local farmers.
He urged farmers to double their efforts and increase acreage under rice from the current 1300 so as to ensure steady supply of the crop to the mill that is expected to begin operations towards the end of the year.
By Philip Onyango
