LBDA and NCPB partner to boost rice milling in Kenya

KENYA – The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) have entered into a partnership agreement to enhance modern rice milling, grading, and packaging at the newly commissioned LBDA Rice Mill.

The partnership sets the pace to boost local rice production and reduce the country’s reliance on imports following a recent target set by the state to halt rice imports by 2032.

The LBDA Rice Mill, located in Kisumu, boasts a milling capacity of 3.5 metric tons per hour. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to serve rice farmers across the Lake Basin region, including Kisumu, Migori, and Busia counties, providing efficient and high-quality milling services.

The mill aims to standardize rice processing, ensuring that farmers receive better returns for their produce while supplying consumers with high-quality rice.

Under the partnership, the NCPB, which has extensive experience in grain post-harvest handling, will leverage its expertise to support LBDA in streamlining operations. This includes storage, quality control, and distribution, which will improve the overall efficiency and competitiveness of locally milled rice.

The agreement is part of a broader government initiative to promote food security and enhance the agricultural value chain in Kenya.

Kenya’s annual rice consumption stands at approximately 720,000 metric tons, yet local production is significantly lower, averaging less than 100,000 metric tons.

This shortfall necessitates the importation of over 80% of the country’s rice consumption. Recently, Ephantus Kimotho, Principal Secretary for Irrigation, announced that Kenya plans to halt rice imports by 2032 by completing pending large-scale irrigation projects during a briefing on the country’s agricultural and irrigation development progress.

The LBDA-NCPB partnership aims to further support the country’s ambitious target by improving rice milling capacity and efficiency, supporting farmers with better processing facilities, and creating a pathway for increased local production.

The collaboration will also empower smallholder rice farmers by reducing post-harvest losses and enhancing value addition.

Previously, many farmers faced challenges such as inadequate milling services, resulting in lower-quality rice that struggled to compete with imported varieties. The partnership is expected to change this narrative, ensuring that locally produced rice meets international standards.

In addition to the LBDA Rice Mill, in April 2024, NCPB announced plans to install another rice milling facility in Kisumu in a bid to boost rice production and expand the market for farmers.

According to the statement, the mill, which would be located within its warehouses on Kisumu’s Nkurumah Road, would be able to process 2.5 tonnes of rice paddy per hour (TPH), further expanding the region’s ability to handle and process rice efficiently.

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