Usonga MCA Sylvester Madialo holds rice production talks with farmers

This article was originally published in the Tribune print issue 4 in March 2026. It was republished online in September 2026.

By the Tribune

Usonga MCA Sylvester Madialo met Usonga rice farmers last month to discuss production increases. The meeting in Ulupi village in Sumba was attended by dozens of farmers and local administrators, including Sumba assistant chief Stanislaus Oduor.

Mr. Madialo told the farmers that boosting production would help meet the Siriwo Rice Mill’s paddy demands and enable them to earn more money from their efforts. Siriwo Rice Mill is a county-funded rice processing plant located in Sumba sub-location, not too far from the Sidundo market. 

The county picked a private company called Nile Logistics to run the facility for 10 years. The mill can process 2.5 tonnes of rice in an hour, allowing it to churn out 60 tonnes in 24 hours of nonstop operation.

The Tribune reported in January that the mill was struggling to get enough paddy locally. Nile Logistics director Gabriel Ndege said the situation could force him to seek paddy supplies from Ahero. 

Nile Logistics representatives attended the farmers’ meeting in Ulupi.