Accelerating adoption of released rice varieties in Kenya

Rice is the third most important cereal in Kenya after maize and wheat. The per capita consumption has been increasing steadily from 12 kg in 2016 to 25.3 kg in 2021 attributed to change in food habits especially among the youth, increase in population and urbanization. Rice imports account for about 89% of this consumption with an import bill of KES 31.1 billion reported in 2021 (Economic Survey, 2022). To significantly reduce the import bill and move towards self sufficiency, the total domestic rice production must increase 7-fold by 2030 (NRDS 2019-2030). Efforts to increase rice production have mostly been based on promotion of good agricultural practices, provision of irrigation systems and promoting mechanization along the value chain. However, these practices alone may not contribute significantly to increased productivity and production of rice unless farmers adopt cultivation of improved high-yielding climate smart rice varieties and use of quality seeds. In the last decade, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute, released a number of improved high-yielding rice varieties. Among these varieties, Komboka and 08FAN10 have been found to have general adaptation for the irrigated and rainfed ecologies in central, western and coastal regions of Kenya. Although Komboka was released in 2013, in the period of 2013– 2019 no deliberate efforts were made in popularizing the variety.In the efforts of accelerating adoption, a multi-stakeholder approach was used to disseminate the technologies including these new varieties and the related information. Channels used for dissemination were field demonstrations, farmers' field days and mass media (radio, television, web-based information portals, You Tube). Twenty one on- farm demonstrations and 15 field days were conducted in central, western and coastal regions of Kenya. Through these channels, we were able to reach over 2000 farmers directly through the demonstrations and field days and a massive number of farmers in all rice growing areas in Kenya through the other channels and as spillover effect. As part of our multi-stakeholder strategy to accelerate adoption of new varieties, rice value chain stakeholders were engaged during the farmers' field days and field demonstrations. Additionally, rice value chain consultations were held to reinforce the adoption of new varieties.