The installation of the Sh20 million new rice mill at Ahero Irrigation Scheme in Kisumu is 95 per cent complete.
Western Kenya Schemes manager Kennedy Ouma said the mill will soon be operationalised after pending issues are sorted out.
The mill was procured and delivered by the county government for installation at the scheme. The machine, Ouma said, would be up and running in the next few days.
“There are ongoing discussions between the management and county government on how we would be able to operationalise the machine,” he said.
The manager said the newly installed machine came with a unique component as compared to the existing mill.
“It came with a colour sorter with a high efficiency compared to the old one which had a very long recovery that made us stop operation,” Ouma said.
The modern plant also targets to boost rice production and provide a market for farmers. The new plant will process 2.5 tonnes of rice an hour.
Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong’o said the mill will complement the existing mills at the Lake Basin Development Authority and the one at Ahero Irrigation Scheme.
"With the new machine, we will be able to package the rice, and do value addition and increase links with the buyers in the local markets. This will create more wealth and jobs in the rice sector," he said.
Upon operationalisation, the mill will enable farmers to have markets for their produce and cushion them from exploitation from middlemen in order to get value for their money.
Nyong'o said his administration is committed to making Kisumu a food-secure county and reducing overdependence on food from neighbouring counties.
“We target to triple the daily milling capacity for rice from West Kano and Ahero irrigation schemes in Nyando,” he said.
Currently, the county has more than 15,000 acres under rice production.
Besides providing a ready market, the mill will create employment to many residents, both directly and indirectly.
In WSK, the main rice varieties planted are non-aromatic such as IR and Kwamboka, which farmers prefer. The variety has higher yielding compared to basmati which mostly is grown in Mwea.
But in terms of quality, he said, basmati was the best, noting that in terms of quantity, farmers prefer non-aromatic varieties.
