The Lake Basin Development Authority has collected 150 tonnes of paddy rice from the West Kano Irrigation Scheme in a new intervention aimed at stabilising market prices and preventing post-harvest losses among farmers.
LBDA managing director Wycliffe Ochiaga said the initiative is part of a broader plan to strengthen the rice value chain while shielding farmers from exploitation and wastage.
He said the programme supports the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which seeks to boost agricultural output, uplift rural economies and enhance household incomes.
Ochiaga said the rice collected under the programme is processed immediately at LBDA’s Kisumu plant, guaranteeing farmers quick returns and reducing the risk of stockpiling.
He said similar mop-ups, amounting to nearly 1,000 tonnes in earlier phases, have already been carried out in the region.
The operation will be extended in the coming weeks to other rice-growing schemes under the authority in Kano, Chiga, Kimira-Oluch in Homa Bay, Nyatike in Migori, and Budalang’i in Busia.
“This is the busiest harvest season for many farmers. By offering fair prices and handling transportation, we are ensuring that farmers focus on production while avoiding losses,” he said.
The West Kano Irrigation Scheme is one of the most productive rice zones in western Kenya.
To support it, LBDA operates a Kisumu-based milling plant with a capacity of four tonnes per hour and maintains go-downs for storage.
The authority also avails drying yards free of charge, which Ochiaga said enables farmers to deliver grain at the right moisture levels for milling and packaging.
“This approach improves quality, minimises waste and helps position locally grown rice as a strong competitor in national and regional markets,” he said.
Beyond the mop-up programme, LBDA is training farmers on better post-harvest practices, distributing improved seed varieties and promoting modern production techniques.
Ochiaga emphasised that the authority’s ultimate goal is not only to raise rice yields but also to make the venture profitable and sustainable for farming households.
He further credited the joint effort between LBDA field teams, county governments and farmer groups for the success of the exercise and assured more resources will be mobilised as harvesting peaks.
The authority expressed confidence that the measures will improve farmer earnings, strengthen food security, and contribute to economic growth across the Lake Basin region.
