The State Department for Irrigation has launched a national baseline survey on rice production to support interventions under the Rice Deficit Reduction Program aimed at increasing local rice output and reducing reliance on imports.
The survey was officially commissioned by Irrigation Secretary in charge of Land Reclamation, Climate Resilience and Irrigation Water Management, Tanui K Joel, on behalf of Principal Secretary for Irrigation Ephantus Kimotho Kimani.
According to the State Department, the exercise seeks to collect data that will guide the implementation of targeted interventions to boost rice production across the country.
The survey will be conducted in major rice-producing irrigation schemes and emerging rice-growing areas under public and community irrigation schemes.
The survey will assess acreage under rice production, irrigation infrastructure, water availability, production capacity, mechanisation levels, seed varieties, farmer productivity, post-harvest handling and market access.
The department said the findings are expected to inform policy decisions, resource allocation and investment planning in the irrigation sector.
The survey will also support the implementation of interventions under the Rice Deficit Reduction Program, which aims to enhance national rice production, strengthen food security, improve farmer livelihoods and reduce dependence on rice imports.
The State Department said Kenya’s rice deficit is currently estimated at about 700,000 metric tonnes annually.
Through the Rice Intensification Program, the department said it aims to increase local rice production and reduce the country’s rice import bill, which it estimates at more than Sh56 billion annually.
The program is also aligned with the government’s agenda on food security, climate resilience and sustainable agricultural transformation through the expansion and modernisation of irrigation infrastructure, efficient water management, adoption of climate-smart technologies and increased support to farmers in irrigation schemes.
