Over 70 tonnes of unprocessed rice remain in storage at the Kalimbeza National Rice Project due to processing challenges. 

The recent harvest from seven hectares in February produced 1,304 bags of rice. 

The 70 tonnes of rice harvested in 2025 remain in storage awaiting processing due to challenges with processing machinery.

The councillor for Kabbe North Constituency, Bernard Sisamu, visited the Kalimbeza Rice Project to assess the stored harvest and evaluate current production at the project.

"On that previous harvest, it's still just like that in its bags, but I was informed that there will be a contractor who will have to arrive soon to come and repair the machine so that they will start clearing that old rice that was harvested."

Equipment that needs to be repaired includes rice whiteners and the deshelling machine, which removes husks from the rice grains. 

The rice colour sorter, which is the main machine used to sort rice, will not be repaired because its spare parts are no longer available on the market.

Despite the processing challenges, rice production at the project continues. 

Currently, 39 hectares of rice are under cultivation and expected to be harvested in May of this year.

The total area includes eight hectares of the Nerica 4 variety and 31 hectares of the Super variety.

The Kalimbeza Rice Project has 150 hectares designated for rice cultivation, but only about 30% of the land is currently being used due to irrigation limitations.

Sisamu says he was informed that the rice already harvested and stored remains in good condition. 

The Deputy Director for Public Relations and Information Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Romeo Muyunda, confirmed that the contractor is on site, and machinery is expected to be completed by the end of the week. 

Talks to acquire a competent supplier for a new rice processing plant are ongoing, with delivery expected by August of this year. 

After addressing all these issues, Muyunda said the ministry can fully resume rice processing and packaging.