Promotion of Rice Production: A Likely Step to Making Kenya Food Secure. An Assessment of Current Production and Potential

Abstract

This paper aimed at assessing the state of rice production in Kenya. The introductory part has established that Agriculture contributes enormously to the Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). An inquiry into the origin and domestication of rice (which is the third most important crop in Kenya) has revealed that there are two main species of cultivated rice: the African rice and the Asian rice. Since its introduction in 1907, the crop’s consumption has been increasing at a rate of about 12%, a rate that is far much beyond the rate of production. This has necessitated the import dependency ratio to be very high (about 88% in the last decade). Since Kenya has a high potential for  producing both irrigable and rain-fed rice which can meet the increasing demand, some measures have been suggested, which may help boost the production. One of such steps is the popularization of New Rice for Africa (NERICA), an improved upland variety; adoption of new variety of paddy rice called IR522, sensitization and adoption of System of Rice Intensification (SRI), among other strategies.

Keywords: Rice production, Food security, New Rice for Africa, IR522