New maize mill whets Homa Bay appetite for cash
Large-scale and small-scale maize farmers James Omollo, 52, and Mary Owino, 41, in Homa Bay County are now a happy lot, thanks to a newly-built sifting factory.
This follows the completion and commissioning of an Sh240 million maize milling plant to manufacture Mokwa, (our own flour), at Kigoto, Suba North Constituency.
Unlike in the past when maize farmers were stranded with their bumper produce, they are now assured of a ready market.
The Mokwa maize plant is expected to reduce post-harvest losses incurred by farmers, especially from Gwassi region, who have been lacking adequate markets.
The plant will boost their income per capita and save thousands of people from unscrupulous middlemen who have been buying farm produce at throwaway prices.
“We are happy the miller — with a capacity to crush 30 tonnes of maize per day — will produce ‘Mokwa’ brand of maize meal at affordable rates,” says Omollo.
Job opportunities
This is the first project of its kind to be initiated and launched by the county government in the Western Kenya village since the dawn of devolution. The Mokwa plant seeks to not only add value to the maize produced in the region but also to create more wealth and job opportunities across the production and supply value chain.
“We want to see more such factories in our midst to spur domestic and economic growth,’’ says Owino.
Many farmers shared similar views, hoping to see Mokwa factory produce super white maize flour and grits. The factory is a brainchild of former Governor Cyprian Awiti’s Government, which started it, but it stalled after the county failed to pay the contractor. When Awiti exited office, new Governor Gladys Wanga immediately re-advertised for the plant’s completion.
Last week, a maize mill that produces grade one sifted maize was officially launched by Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga, marking a journey of economic reconnaissance in Luoland.
Raila commended Wanga’s administration for swiftly embarking on serving the people amid bubbling economic heat.
“We promised that every county would have its own product, “one county, one product” — which they would specialise in, he said and urged other counties to emulate the example.
Raila told residents that this is a true sign that devolution, which was opposed by some Kenyans, is actually working and there is a need to focus on other areas.
He singled out productive sectors such as fish, cotton, pineapple, and even cotton, sunflower and processing factories which thrive well in the region, but have no manufacturing plant around.
“Homa Bay has served as a model to other counties that have hit the ground running; to oversee successful implementation of economic projects as envisaged in devolution,” said Raila.
Wanga was delighted to have finally completed one of the projects her administration had embarked on in just under 100 days since assuming office.
“We already have in place Mokwa distributors who will ensure that the products reache every business in Homa Bay and the outlying areas,” she said.
The governor announced that a 2kg packet of ‘Mokwa’ maize brand will retail at Sh195, with a kilo going for Sh95. This is lower than other brands in the market.
Mokwa, given its local name, might have a competitive advantage over the dominant brands like Jambo, Jogoo, Dola, Mama, and Jembe.
A current shortage of maize supply from the region is expected to be addressed through various strategies, among them providing maize subsidies, Wanga said. These strategies include strengthening the co-operative movement.
As a result, she ordered the Department of Trade to ensure that the factory operates full-time to maximise the profits, and for farmers to dutifuly deliver their produce.
“It is now a business; we must ensure that farmers are paid on time and also that the factory gets some income. We do not want a situation where, after a few days, we hear that the factory has collapsed due to non-payment of farmers,” she warned
Wanga assured Kigoto and Homa Bay smallholder farmers that her administration would mainly depend on local maize for sifted flour producction.
She challenged farmers to venture into large-scale maize farming to meet the demands of the factory’s crushing capacity.
Homa Bay has a high potential for maize production, with Gwassi and the entire Suba sub-county being grain baskets.
Wanga promised her administration would provide farmers with inputs. She also announced they are seeking to complete an animal feeds plant at Arujo.
Deputy Governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga expressed optimism that the milling plant will receive enough raw materials from county farmers and urged the youth to embrace agribusiness.
“We do not want to import maize from Rift Valley, Western or Kisii and yet we have fertile and fallow land,” he said.
