This archive report was first published on 11 November 2019.
Kenya is poised to cut its rice imports by 36% this year, thanks to a bumper harvest in major irrigation schemes. The country expects to produce 240,000 tonnes of rice, nearly double the output in the previous year.
According to Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu, the country mainly relies on imports to bridge the local deficit, bringing in up to 250,000 tonnes annually to meet the demand. However, this year's production is expected to play a major role in cutting down on imports, benefiting local farmers.
Mr. Irungu attributed the good crop to good crop husbandry and expansion of the crop to new regions. National Irrigation Board (NIB) general manager Gitonga Mugambi also noted that the production has resulted from expanded area under the crop, with the introduction of rice in Bura.
Production at the Mwea Irrigation scheme has been on the rise since 2016, when the scheme witnessed one of the worst droughts in a decade, resulting in a significant drop in output. In 2016, 24,000 tonnes were harvested, followed by 77,000 tonnes in 2017 and 87,000 tonnes last year. The scheme is projected to yield about 180,000 tonnes in the current season.
Mwea I scheme accounts for 80% of Kenya's rice production. Rice consumption has been growing by 10% yearly and now stands at 400,000 tonnes, according to State data. Improved production has seen the price of the commodity stay at a low of Sh130 at the factory currently from a high of Sh160 previously.
The Principal Secretary said Kenya wants to expand the area under crop in order to increase production and cut overreliance on imports. 'We are in talks with the Treasury to allocate this project more funds so that we can increase the area under crop cover,' he said.
