The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) is scaling up certified rice seed production in Mwea, Kirinyaga county. Its partner is the Korean Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA). The two have started transplanting rice at the K-Ricebelt seed production complex in Kirogo, The Star reported. The aim is to ease a shortage of certified seed that has held farmers back.
KALRO deputy director for Crop Systems and Research Dr Benjamin Kibuva said the project would lift seed output to 450 tonnes from about 152 tonnes. He called the first 7.2-hectare block a major milestone. The complex is expected to cover 65 hectares once fully developed. Kibuva said Kenya produces only about 23 to 25 per cent of its rice needs. Annual consumption is estimated at more than 1.3 million tonnes.
KALRO Mwea Centre director Ruth Musila said about 38 acres have been covered so far. Transplanting is under way on a further 18 acres. She said KALRO produced about 150 tonnes of certified rice seed in 2025 and is targeting 330 tonnes in 2026. The centre is promoting high-yielding varieties such as Komboka, which can produce six to seven tonnes per hectare.
Musila said farmers who plant certified seed can harvest 10 to 15 per cent more than those using farm-saved seed. Certified seed goes through quality checks for germination, pests and diseases. KALRO is working with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) to ensure farmers get seed that meets the required standards.
KOPIA country director Ji Gang Kim said the partnership began in 2024. He said it tackles rice production problems through better technology, research and more certified seed. He added that it would also create jobs. He urged farmers to adopt modern methods and improved varieties.
Lucy Njeri, a rice farmer in Mwea, welcomed the effort. She said farmers had struggled for years with poor irrigation and scarce planting material. Better water supply and affordable, quality seed have helped households earn more, including money for school fees, she said.
The government is targeting rice self-sufficiency by 2032. Its plan relies on higher local production, more irrigation and better farming technology, The Star reported.