Kenya is stepping up efforts to increase domestic rice production and reduce dependence on imports through a new seed development project targeting improved access to affordable, certified planting materials.
The initiative aims to increase yields, strengthen climate resilience and address a widening gap between local rice production and national consumption.
Kenya currently produces approximately 23 per cent of the rice it consumes, with the remaining 77 per cent supplied through imports. Annual demand is estimated at 1.8 million metric tonnes.
New Facility to Boost Certified Seed Supply
The project’s first phase has been completed, with rice transplanting beginning on 7.2 hectares of land.
According to Dr Ji Gang Kim, director of the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA), the facility is expected to process up to 40 tonnes of seed daily and increase national certified rice seed production capacity to approximately 700 metric tonnes annually.
The additional supply is expected to address shortages of quality planting materials, which have constrained productivity among Kenyan rice farmers.
High-Yielding and Climate-Resilient Varieties
The project will prioritise high-yielding, disease-resistant and climate-resilient rice varieties.
These include Komboka, Ukafasi 39, ISRIS 6 and ISRIS 7, which have demonstrated potential yields of up to 7.5 tonnes per hectare under suitable growing conditions.
Farmers and local seed producers will also receive training in improved seed production technologies, innovations and management practices.
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) is supporting efforts to strengthen technical skills, improve seed quality and develop commercial opportunities along the rice value chain.
Kenya Seeks to Reduce Rice Import Dependence
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has defended continued rice imports, citing the significant gap between domestic production and consumption.
Government figures show that Kenya produced approximately 303,384 metric tonnes of paddy during the 2024/2025 season, against annual demand of about 1.8 million metric tonnes.
The new seed initiative is expected to help farmers increase production while improving the availability of locally produced rice.
For Kenya, expanding certified seed production is an important step towards reducing import dependence, strengthening food security and improving agricultural productivity. Its long-term success will depend on farmers’ access to quality seeds, irrigation, markets and affordable production inputs.