Rice farmers in Mboghoni ward, Taveta sub-county, Taita Taveta County, are set to experience a significant boost in earnings with the introduction of mobile milling machines. During the commissioning and testing of one of these innovative machines, Dr. Dominic Menjo, the food security advisor to the president, highlighted their potential to transform post-harvest rice processing, potentially doubling the price per kilo from Sh. 40 to Sh. 85.
Describing the mobile milling machines as a crucial element in revitalizing the county’s rice value-addition chain, Dr. Menjo emphasized that farmers would no longer be compelled to sell their rice at lower prices due to a lack of access to processing technology and equipment.
Dr. Menjo stated, “The era of impoverishing Kenyan farmers is rapidly coming to an end because the national government is using a bottom-up approach to empower and support agricultural production at all phases.”
The mobile rice milling machines, with a processing capacity of 1.5 tonnes per hour, are poised to play a crucial role during the harvesting season. Rice farmers, who have historically sold unprocessed produce to brokers at lower rates, express optimism about the opportunity to process and sell their rice at prevailing market prices.
Simon Msagha, a rice farmer from Mboghoni, shared his excitement, saying, “We’ve been hoping for a day like this when we will process our rice and sell it at the prevailing market prices and benefit from our efforts.”
The county administration, in collaboration with the national government, is actively working to revamp the agricultural system through equipment provision and farmers’ training. Christine Kilalo, Taita Taveta County Deputy Governor, emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships to protect farmers and their produce, eliminating cartels, preventing post-harvest losses, and boosting farmers’ earnings. Gertrude Shuwe, County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Cooperative, Tourism, and Industrialization, outlined a comprehensive plan to increase rice acreage from 14,000 to 36,000 acres in partnership with the national government and other stakeholders.
Kenya currently imports 84 percent of its consumed rice, amounting to approximately $275 million in expenditure. The national government’s commitment to reducing this dependency involves restructuring agricultural production, building farmers’ capacity, lowering input prices, minimizing post-harvest losses, and enhancing market prices for produce at both local and international levels.
The introduction of mobile milling machines marks a pivotal step towards achieving these goals, empowering local farmers and contributing to the nation’s food security efforts.
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