Nairobi: Kenya and Korea are jointly undertaking the development of the Africa Rice Cultivation Complex, which will be based in Mwea, Kirinyaga County. The foreign government, through Korea Rural Community Cooperation, will oversee construction of a 65-ha scale Rice Seed Cultivation Complex that has already commenced. The facility is scheduled for completion in 2028.
According to Kenya News Agency, the project is being implemented by the Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA) and the Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). It aims to produce high-yield rice seed and increase farming household income. The project will cost Sh129 million per year through a grant and will involve the production of certified rice seed, infrastructural development, and acquisition of necessary machinery.
The KALRO Centre Director in Mwea, Dr. Ruth Musila, stated that the project will develop a sustainable, certified rice seed system in the country. She emphasized the importance of making affordable seeds accessible to farmers. The complex will include a seed storage facility with the capacity to accommodate about 1,000 tonnes of certified seeds, along with dryers and a processing unit for seed preparation and packaging.
Dr. Musila also noted that the project will see the development of a paddy field for rice production on 65 hectares of land, with plans to mechanize the system to reduce production costs. This will make rice seed affordable for farmers in Mwea, the western region, Taita Taveta, as well as Bura and Hola.
The distribution model targets the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) as a primary distributor, integrating seed and fertilizer availability for farmers. Dr. Musila highlighted the goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency in Kenya, aiming for a 30 percent self-sufficiency rate, up from the current rate below 20 percent.
The project also seeks to reduce seed costs from Sh160 to about Sh100 per kilogram. Additionally, the complex will feature office and training blocks to educate seed growers and farmers on seed production and commercial paddy rice cultivation.
The Kenyan government is making efforts to boost rice production and reduce reliance on imports by purchasing rice from farmers, modernizing rice farming, and exploring partnerships for rice imports. In January, the National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, announced Sh150 million set aside in the supplementary budget for the 2024/25 financial year to facilitate the purchase of paddy from farmers.