Business

Boon for Taveta rice farmers as state donates mobile milling machines

Food Security Advisor to the President Dr Domnic Menja during the donation of the mobile rice milling machines. (Photo: Taita Taveta Government)

By Farhiya Hussein | Tuesday, February 6, 2024

The equipment will potentially raise the price of rice per kilo from Sh40 to Sh85

Rice farmers in Mboghoni, Taveta, are set to increase their output to 1.5 tonnes per hour thanks to mobile rice milling machines donated by the National Government.

Food Security Advisor to the President Dr Domnic Menja said the equipment will potentially raise the price of rice per kilo from Sh40 to Sh85, greatly increasing the farmers' earnings.

Keep reading

Collaborating with the County Government of Taita Taveta, the President's office aims to empower local rice farmers, reducing the need for importing 84 per cent of the rice consumed in Kenya.

Taita Taveta Deputy Governor Christine Saru Kilalo highlighted the strategy to cut losses by processing rice locally, fostering competition with regions like Mwea.

"By empowering our farmers with machines, we will cut the losses incurred by selling unprocessed rice to Tanzania for milling. Once the value is added, the price will go up significantly, and we will be able to compete with Mwea," said the Deputy Governor.

Value-addition

To promote growth, the county is also working with the national government to fortify cooperative societies as it sets up distribution and aggregation hubs for the marketing, value-adding, and storing of agricultural goods.

One of the mobile rice milling machines donated by the National Government to rice farmers in Mboghoni, Taveta. (Photo: Taita Taveta Government)

"The purpose of this cooperation is to help our county's farmers produce farm products by ensuring that we have aggregation centres, support agripreneurs, Saccos, and data systems. We wish to do away with exploitative cartels, guarantee farmers receive regular assistance, protection, and reduction of post-harvest losses, as well as increase farmer incomes." Kilalo stated.

The Uwezo Fund will also provide financial support to the rice farmers.

Mboghoni MCA, Halifa Taraya, praised the state for prioritising rice farmers.

Taraya added that the National Cereal and Produce Board's decision to begin buying premium rice, green grams, and maize from county farmers is a positive step that would guarantee food security and give Taita Taveta farmers more leverage.

Additionally, the board plans to keep the excess produce and sell it locally.

Trade, Cooperative, Tourism, and Industrialisation CECM Gertrude Shuwe emphasised the need to expand rice farming from 14,000 acres to 36,000 acres to sustain the market and transform Taveta into a thriving 24-hour economy.