MWEA, Kenya – The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) has introduced four new high-yielding rice varieties in a major push to boost local production and reduce the country’s heavy dependence on imports.
Unveiled during a farmers’ field day at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme, the new varieties — Kalgold, Kalpaa, Kalfine and Kal-Imara — have been developed in partnership with sector stakeholders to help bridge Kenya’s widening rice deficit.
Kalro Mwea Centre manager Ruth Musila said Kenya currently produces just 304,000 tonnes of rice annually against a national demand of 1.3 million tonnes, forcing the government to import more than 70 per cent of its consumption.
“Local farmers supply only 23 per cent of the rice Kenyans consume. These new varieties are designed to increase yields and support the country’s food security targets,” Musila said.
High-performing Kalgold and Kalpaa
Musila said the Kalgold variety delivers up to 5.5 tonnes per hectare in warm regions and 3.5 tonnes in moderately cold areas.
It also boasts more than 60 per cent head rice recovery — comparable to the popular pishori variety — meaning farmers retain more whole grain after milling.
Kalgold is suitable for major rice-growing zones including Mwea, Ahero, Taita Taveta, Bura and Tana.
Kalpaa, locally nicknamed Mkombozi, performs strongly in lowland areas with weekly irrigation or dependable rainfall.
It matures within 95–100 days and can yield up to eight tonnes per hectare, making it one of the most productive varieties released so far.
Farmers in Mwea have welcomed the announcement, saying the new varieties promise better harvests and improved incomes compared to indigenous varieties.
However, they urged the government to ensure sufficient certified seeds reach the market.
Rising Worries Over Harmful Agrochemicals
Kirinyaga Agriculture Executive John Gachara raised alarm over the growing use of unregulated agrochemicals within the scheme, saying they pose serious health risks to farmers and degrade the environment.
In collaboration with the Pest Control Products Board, the county has intensified campaigns to sensitise farmers against harmful products.
Many producers have increasingly resorted to toxic chemicals to battle golden apple snails, a pest that has devastated rice fields in recent years.
A 2023 study by the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), conducted with the Ministry of Agriculture and local partners, found that the snails accounted for more than 70 per cent of daily pest-related complaints in Mwea.
Farms with a moderate infestation of about 20 per cent recorded a 14 per cent drop in yields and up to 60 per cent decline in revenue.
Initial interventions — including community-led egg collection drives, draining fields during vulnerable growth stages and the use of a biodegradable pesticide — have had limited success, prompting the formation of a multi-agency technical team to coordinate more effective responses.
Meanwhile, households around the scheme continue to report rising cases of skin, respiratory and chronic health complications linked to prolonged exposure to harmful farm chemicals.
