Gov't allocates Ksh.200M for purchase of rice through SACCOs

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

Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) Managing Director Lucy Anagwe said the funds are already available and assured farmers that payments will be made promptly upon delivery of quality rice.

“We have received a Ksh.200 million rice grant and have utilised Ksh.120 million so far. Farmers should be assured that payment will be made immediately after delivery and quality verification,” Anagwe said.

The government has 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.

“We are assuring farmers that all produce will be taken up by national institutions. No farmer should be left with unsold rice,” Linyiru said.

Meanwhile, the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MRGM) said it is expecting 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 has more than 40,000 bags of Pishori rice in stock and welcomed KNTC’s commitment to purchase the produce, noting that similar arrangements last year helped prevent payment delays to farmers.

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