AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE CALLS ON COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO OPERATIONALIZE SIRIWO RICE MILLING PLANT
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Monday, 4th November, 2024
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The House Committee on Agriculture has called on the County Executive to work round the clock to ensure that the Siriwo Rice Mill in Usonga Ward is operational and commercially viable.
The Committee chaired by Hon. Fredrick Omoro conducted a fact-finding mission to the milling plant where they challenged the Department of Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock and Blue Economy to explore new partnerships with other strategic players in the rice value chain to support small and medium-scale rice farmers in the country.
The committee emphasized that once operational, the Siriwo Rice Milling Plant will meet the demands of farmers in Usonga as well as those along the larger lower Nzoia irrigation scheme as it will provide them with the opportunity to become suppliers to a competitive and profitable enterprise within the formal Kenyan rice milling industry.
In a rejoinder, the CECM for Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock and Blue Economy, Sylvester K’Okoth, revealed that the County Executive is in the process of identifying a strategic investor to operate the rice milling plant based on a clearly defined contractual agreement and governance structure that incorporates representation from the Usonga Rice Producers Cooperative Society and the county government.
“The cabinet approved our recommendation to identify a private investor to run, manage and operate this milling plant and inject private sector capital for its profitability and financial sustainability. We are hopeful that once this process is complete, our farmers will get a good market for their produce and there will be employment opportunities for locals,” K’Okoth retorted.
The Siriwo Rice Mill was fully constructed by the County Government of Siaya in line with Governor Orengo’s Nyalore manifesto which seeks to accelerate agricultural transformation towards a commercial and modern sector that sustainably supports the county’s food and nutrition security and socio-economic development.
According to the Chief Officer of Agriculture, Food Security, Livestock and Blue Economy, Elizabeth Adongo, once operational, the mill will produce 2.5 tons of rice per hour which translates to 60 tons per day.
“The setting up of the Siriwo Rice Milling Plant was strategic and critical to the sustainable development of the rice industry in the region. Once fully operational, this facility will link farmers with quality inputs and services,” underscored the Chief Officer.
