Siaya: Siriwo Rice Mill Ready and Raring to Go

By George Adeya 

Rice Farmers from across Usonga Ward and it’s environs are optimistic as the installation of Siriwo Rice Mill in Usonga Ward enters the homestretch.

A test run for the mill to ensure that all has been installed correctly after power connection was done this week further raised the farmers hopes of breaking away from the many years of exploitation by middlemen who have been buying their paddy for a song.

The mill, anticipated to be ready for commissioning next month , will be a big boost to the farmers as it will drastically increase the number of households undertaking rice farming from 1,500 to 14,000 with area under irrigation and rice cultivation poised to increase from 1,200 acres to 11,200 acres. It is also anticipated that the average yield will increase from the present 2500kg /acre to 4000kg/acre.

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To ensure high quality production, Nyalore administration through the department of Agriculture is working on a master-plan to provide the farmers with high yield, market competitive rice varieties and other farm inputs.