Gov’t Sets Aside Ksh.200 Million to Buy Rice from Farmers Through SACCOs

By :  Mweru Mbugua

The government has allocated Ksh.200 million for the purchase of rice from local farmers through their Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), a move aimed at stabilising market prices and ensuring prompt payments to growers

Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) Managing Director Lucy Anagwe said the funds are already available, noting that Ksh.120 million has been utilised so far. She assured farmers that payments will be made immediately after delivery and quality verification of the rice

“We have received a Ksh.200 million rice grant and have already used Ksh.120 million. Farmers should be confident that once they deliver quality rice, payment will be made without delay,” Anagwe said

The government has also set the buying price for rice paddy at Ksh.90 per kilogram

Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Director General Bruno Linyiru added that millers can deliver rice paddy to SACCOs and receive payment within 30 days. He emphasised that national institutions are ready to absorb all produce from farmers

“We are assuring farmers that all their rice will be purchased. No farmer should be left with unsold produce,” Linyiru said

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Meanwhile, the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MRGM) expects a total production of about 1.6 million bags of rice this year, each weighing 100 kilograms. MRGM Managing Director Anthony Waweru said the cooperative currently holds more than 40,000 bags of Pishori rice in stock

Waweru welcomed KNTC’s commitment to buy the rice, noting that similar arrangements in the past helped prevent payment delays to farmers

“We are expecting to harvest close to 100,000 bags this season, but this will largely depend on KNTC’s continued commitment to purchase our rice,” he said