Kilimo Trust, Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), and Egerton University have collaborated to spur the cultivation of high-yielding upland rice varieties.
The exercise is being undertaken in Meru, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi Counties.
The partners say the upland rice varieties designed to thrive under rain-fed conditions will go a long way in transforming the livelihoods of small-scale farmers by increasing their incomes and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
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Kilimo Trust CEO Birungi Korutaro highlighted the importance of the practice as a factor that will help the farmers get value for their investments.
“By reducing our dependence on imported rice, countries can lower their food import costs and strengthen their local economies. Our commitment to promoting upland rice farming aligns with our vision for a food-secure East Africa that is economically and environmentally sustainable,’’ he said.
On his part, Egerton University professor Paul Kimurto said that the new rice breed will have far-reaching effects on environmental conservation
”Unlike paddy rice, upland rice plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving soil health by allowing the incorporation of legumes as rotational crops,” he said.
The upland rice initiative is part of Kilimo Trust’s Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Rice Initiative for Climate Smart Agriculture (R4iCSA), which aims to increase production and promote sustainable practices among 10,000 smallholder rice farmers in Kenya and Uganda to mitigate climate change effects.
In the past two years, over 3,800 small-scale farmers in the region have received training, with more than 800 successfully adopting these drought-tolerant rice varieties.
These efforts are seen as a significant step towards addressing Kenya’s food security challenges.
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