President William Ruto has committed to supporting the country's rice farmers by enhancing value addition to boost production, increase earnings, and contribute to national food security.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Lake Basin Development Authority Rice Mill Project in Kibos, Kisumu County, on Saturday, Ruto emphasized the importance of boosting local rice production and empowering farmers.
"We will support our rice farmers so they can produce more, earn more, and feed more Kenyans," he stated in the state-of-the-art rice mill."
The plant, with a processing capacity of 4,000 tonnes per hour, three shifts in a day, five days a week (excluding weekends) for 12 months, will mill 28,000 metric tons will generate revenue, and revolutionise rice farming in the region.
According to the President, the plant will promote rice cultivation across more than 6,000 acres in the Chiga, East Kano, and West Kano irrigation schemes, directly benefiting over 10,000 households.
The new rice mill will greatly assist farmers from Nyando and Ahero irrigation schemes.
It will also help prevent farmers from selling unmilled rice to brokers who end up exploiting them despite having put much effort into farming.
