Analysis of Millers in Kenya’s Rice Value Chain
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science (IOSR-JAVS) - Year 2019, Vol 12, Issue 1
Abstract
Rice is the third most important cereal crop in Kenya after Maize and wheat. The annual consumption of rice is increasing at a rate of 12% making the production to continually reduce below 30% of demand. A holistic approach to rice production needs to be employed to bridge this gap. One key area along the rice value chain is the post-harvest management sub-chain that includes milling and related activities. In Kenya, most of the paddy rice is processed within the regions where it is produced. Efficiency of the milling industry is important in realisation of improved rice supply; this efficiency may be gauged in terms of three factors; degree of competition, technology, and capacity utilization. This paper analyses Kenya’s rice value chain from these perspectives, and particularly capacity utilization and technology at the millers’ level. Large and medium millers in Kenya were visited, interviewed and physical verification of the mills undertaken during the period of October 2018. Work done through the value chain study of 2010 was used to build the information. Data and information from other related studies was also factored, and the information on all mills has been updated to reflect the current situation. The findings indicated that there are about 16 medium and large-scale mills with an installed capacity of 66 tonnes/hour of which 56.1 % is currently in operation. The identified small-scale millers were 256 with an estimated capacity of 128 tonnes/hour, of which 122.5 tonnes/hour are operational. The average estimated capacity utilization for an 8 hour per day operation of all mills was low at 23.6%. Most of the milling technologies used by small scale millers were single pass with low conversion rates. The low capacity utilization and less efficient mills translates to high milling cost and low recovery. The millers however still realised fair margins. The findings indicate that there are a number of challenges and threats that need to be overcome or observed, and also strengths and opportunities that need to be exploited to support milling sub sector through better technology, capacity utilization and other related interventions.
Authors and Affiliations
Samuel Njuguna Ndirangu, Wilson A. Oyange
Keywords
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- EP ID EP445312
- DOI 10.9790/2380-1201033847.
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