The government is installing a modern rice milling machine at the Lake Victoria Basin Authority (LBDA) Rice Mill Complex in Kisumu to scale up capacity for paddy processing in the Lake region.
East Africa Community and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Penninah Malonza said installation of the state of the art milling machine was expected to be completed in three weeks ahead of its commissioning by President Dr. William Ruto.
Malonza who toured the facility to assess the ongoing works said the new mill which has a capacity of processing 4 tons per hour would boost rice production in the area.
“The community has really suffered because the old machine which had a capacity of milling 3.5 tons per hour when it was installed had reduced to an average of 0.8 tons per hour,” she said.
The CS added that with the milling machine in place, farmers were guaranteed enhanced paddy efficient, timely and clean processing.
This, she said, would ensure farmers got high quality packaged rice to sell thus turning around the economy of the region.
“Our farmers in Ahero will now stop selling their produce at throwaway prices and this is going to spur economic growth in the region,” she said.
She said the installation of the machine which was to be delivered in two batches was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic adding that once fully operational, it would generate revenue for the Authority.
The rice mill complex was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of LBDA to undertake several business enterprises aimed at enhancing income generation for the Authority to reduce dependency on the exchequer.
“This is a very positive move because we want our Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to be sustainable and manage their affairs including payment of salaries,” she said.
The CS was accompanied by Regional Development Principal Secretary (PS) Harsama Kello, LBDA Chairman James Diang’a and LBDA Managing Director (MD) Wycliffe Ochiaga.
By Chris Mahandara
