An Inquiry into the Process of Upgrading Rice Milling Service: The Case of Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kenya

Abstract:

Countries in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) heavily rely on rice imported from Asia, partly because of rapidly increasing rice demand and partly because of consumers’ preference for high-quality Asian rice. A few entrepreneurial rice millers in Kenya adopted large-scale improved milling machines, including the component called destoners, around 2010, which they learned from China. Later, smaller-sized improved machines were introduced and more widely adopted. These adopters successfully improved the quality of milled rice, which can compete with imported rice, and their business performance. In contrast, many other millers without adopting improved machines were forced to reduce their business or exit the industry.