Kenyan firm invests in rice milling plant

A Kenyan firm is planning to overturn the country's high rice import bill by doubling it's production. About 120,000 tonnes of rice is imported every year. Domestic production is now set to hit 220,000 tones per annum following the acquisition of a rice milling plant by Dominion Group of Companies in Siaya district. The plant, acquired at a cost of over US$380,000, has a capacity of milling 4 tonnes of rice per hour.

Mrs. Joyce Opudo, the firm's operations manager,said approximately 100,000 tones of rice per annum will be sold locally market. "We are embarking on large-scale production to ensure reasonably-priced rice to compete with and ultimately block importation of cheap, poor quality rice into the country," she said.

The firm has also installed drying, packaging and shipping capabilities. Opudo said due to expected high volumes of husk waste from the mill, a subsidiary factory would be set up to process the waste into other usable materials, like for ceiling boards and power generation.

Business Week