Rice farmers to benefit from Sh700 million seeds programme

Kalro Director General said that by addressing the unavailability of certified seeds, the programme will ensure farmers produce more and bridge the gap between production and consumption. 

"Under the programme, some farmers will travel to South Korea to learn more about sustainable rice farming and later become trainers of trainers to reach more farmers," he said. 

Kireger assured that researchers are working to find the best cure for apple snails that have continued to wreak havoc in the Mwea irrigation scheme pushing farmers into huge losses. 

Kopia country director Ji Gang Kim noted that apart from providing sustainable and certified seeds, the programme will also offer mechanisation in planting, weeding and drying of the rice.

"This will reduce the cost of production and post-harvest losses, Kenyan farmers use the manual methods of planting which are very expensive, and also drying is done on the roads in the open sun which leads to losses of up to 40 per cent of the harvests while still posing a health hazard," he said. 

Kim said the programme is aimed at enhancing and promoting the rice value chain to boost productivity and quality. 

John Macharia, a rice farmer, said the initiative is timely as farmers have been grappling with lack of certified seedlings for planting this season.

"The production of rice has for so many years been affected by poor seeds where most of the farmers have continued to recycle the seeds from the previous harvest which has not only affected the quantity of harvest but also the quality of the rice," he said. 

Macharia was optimistic that the provision of certified seeds, mechanisation, and driers to farmers will maximise production and reduce imports.