Govt plans first rice processing plant in western province

The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development is moving forward with plans to establish the first rice processing plant in Western Province, as part of efforts to boost value addition and rural industrialization.

Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer, Virginia Chilongo, confirmed the development in a statement issued Tuesday, following Minister Elias Mubanga’s tour of 4,000 hectares of CEEC-supported rice farms in Sikongo and Kalabo districts.

Mubanga said the region’s rice has strong market potential both locally and in neighbouring Angola, and that a processing plant would enhance value addition and create more income for farmers.

“There is clearly a large market for this rice. If we provide more equipment and establish a processing plant, it will significantly benefit our farmers,” Mubanga said.

He announced that over 1,463 farmers have been supported under the 2024/2025 CEEC Rice Empowerment Programme, and that harvesters and other agro-equipment have already been distributed.

Meanwhile, Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) Director General Dr. Charles Mungule commended farmers for their commitment and projected a strong harvest.

“This project gives small-scale farmers in Western Province an opportunity to scale up production and meet regional rice demand,” Mungule said.

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