The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
The Kenyan government, in partnership with the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and the Korea Partnership for Innovations of Agriculture, is planning to establish a modern rice seed production facility in Mwea.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
With an investment of $400,000 (approximately Sh51.6 million), the project aims to boost local rice production by supplying farmers with affordable, certified seeds—ultimately cutting down rice imports and enhancing national food security.
According to Dr. Ruth Musila, Director of the KALRO Mwea Centre, the facility will transform the rice sector by creating a sustainable seed system that delivers high-quality seeds at lower costs.
“The goal is to develop a cost-effective and reliable rice seed supply chain,” Musila stated. “Farmers will benefit from easier access to certified seeds at reduced prices.”
The new centre will feature a storage unit with a 1,000-tonne capacity for certified seeds, along with drying and processing equipment to maintain seed quality before distribution.
It will also be outfitted with modern agricultural machinery, including tractors, levelers, and sprayers, to streamline rice farming and reduce production costs.
“Our aim is to bring down seed prices from the current Sh160 to between Sh100 and Sh120,” Musila added.
In addition, training programs will be launched for seed producers and commercial paddy farmers to ensure they adopt improved farming techniques.
“We want farmers to not only get better seeds but also gain the knowledge needed to improve their yields,” said Musila.
