Kirinyaga:The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has intensified its efforts to enhance the production of certified rice seed, aiming to elevate local rice production and diminish the country’s reliance on imports by 2032. This initiative is being executed at KALRO’s Mwea Centre in Kirinyaga County, involving the development of 65 hectares of paddy fields dedicated to certified rice seed production, with the initial phase covering 7.2 hectares.
According to Kenya News Agency, KALRO Director of Crop Production and Seed Systems, Benjamin Kivuva, highlighted the project’s significance during the maiden transplanting exercise. He described it as a major milestone in tackling the shortage of certified rice seed in Kenya, which has historically limited farmers’ production capacity. Kivuva emphasized the project’s potential to significantly increase the availability of quality rice seed to farmers, thereby improving yields and supporting the government’s goal of reducing imports.
KALRO plans to expand certified rice seed production from 152 metric tonnes to approximately 450 metric tonnes, nearly tripling the current output. Kivuva also noted that increasing access to certified seeds, expanding rice cultivation land, and investing in irrigation and rain-fed production systems are crucial steps toward national rice self-sufficiency. The initiative, with support from South Korea, aims to reduce rice imports from 70% to around 50%, with an ultimate goal of eradicating imports by 2032.
Dr. Ruth Musila, Director of KALRO Industrial Crops Research Institute at the Mwea Centre, stated that around 38 acres of the 65 hectares have been developed, with rice transplanting occurring on about 18 acres. The focus is on high-yielding rice varieties like Kwomboka, capable of producing 6 to 7 tonnes per hectare under optimal conditions.
The project also benefits from technical support provided by the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA). KOPIA Director Dr. JiGang Kim noted that the partnership aims to increase the volume of certified seed available to farmers, targeting the production of 330 metric tonnes of certified seed this year. The initiative is set to strengthen farmers’ technical skills and introduce advanced production technologies, potentially expanding support to other regions in Kenya.
Local farmers, such as Lucy Njeri from Mwea, have already experienced the benefits of increased access to affordable certified seeds, which has enhanced their harvests and eased the procurement of planting materials for future seasons.
