NAIROBI, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The adoption of high-yielding upland rice varieties is gradually taking root in Kenya, researchers said on Monday.
Paul Kimurto, a professor of agriculture at Egerton University based in Kenya's western county of Nakuru, said the rice varieties are designed to thrive under rain-fed conditions.
Kimurto said the upland rice initiative is aimed at increasing production and promoting sustainable rice production practices among 10,000 smallholder rice farmers in Kenya to mitigate the effects of climate change.
"The adoption of the rice varieties has helped increase the incomes of small-scale farmers and promote sustainable agricultural practices," Kimurto said in a statement released in Kenya's capital of Nairobi.
Kimurto noted that over 3,800 small-scale farmers in Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi in eastern Kenya have received training, with more than 800 people successfully adopting the drought-tolerant upland rice varieties over the last two years.
He said the varieties are a potential solution to Kenya's food security problem which is largely fueled by climate change.
Unlike paddy rice, upland rice plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as improving soil health by allowing easy incorporation of legumes as rotational crops by the farmers during the subsequent seasons, Kimurto said.
The upland rice, Kimurto added, can also be intercropped with other plants, making it suitable for small-scale rice farming.
The researcher noted that when grown on well-drained soils as opposed to flooded rice paddies, upland rice takes between three and four months to mature, and the cost of production is slightly lower when compared to lowland rice.
Birungi Korutaro, the chief executive officer of Kilimo Trust, an organization that partners with Egerton University to promote upland rice farming, said the variety is an important initiative in attaining the goal of rice sufficiency not only in Kenya but across Africa.
Korutaro said the adoption of upland rice farming in East Africa marks a significant step toward achieving food security and mitigating the effects of climate change in the region.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, annual rice consumption in Kenya is estimated to be over 1 million metric tons, while the production capacity is about 230,000 metric tons.
Upland rice farming in Kenya is a joint initiative between Kilimo Trust, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization and Egerton University. ■
