Nairobi: The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) is actively involved in promoting ratoon technology in rice production. Ratoon technology refers to the practice of cultivating a second crop from the stubble or the base of a previously harvested crop, primarily used in sugarcane and rice cultivation. This technique allows for a second harvest without needing to replant, thus saving on resources like seeds and labour.
According to Kenya News Agency, KALRO Director of Industrial Crops Research, Dr. Simon Omondi, stated that they are utilising and encouraging farmers to embrace ratoon technology, with a view to enhancing crop productivity and sustainability. “We have just completed the trials on ratooning as one of the new technologies. We are encouraging farmers to embrace it, as they will be able to harvest as much as 80 per cent of the original crop,” he added.
The ratoon technology is now gaining traction in Kenya as a way of not only increasing rice production but also reducing input costs. Besides, crops typically not only yield about half as much as the main crop but also offer profitability due to lower input requirements. Dr. Omondi was speaking during a visit to the KALRO Industrial Crops Research Centre at Mwea, Kirinyaga County, where KALRO and the Korea Programme on International Agriculture (KOPIA) are collaborating on a rice project.
Dr. Omondi explained that the project is aimed at ensuring the production of high yielding climate resilient rice varieties and enhancing availability, accessibility and affordability of quality seeds. He noted that the country is not self-sufficient in most industrial crops, such as rice and has to rely on imports. “We have been relying on imports, but our research here in Mwea is geared towards developing a seed system that will ensure that we are able to produce sufficient seed and distribute it to the farmers, as well as introducing the ratoon technology, which will go a long way in contributing to the reduction of imported rice,” he stated.
The Director highlighted that KALRO has produced high-yielding varieties of rice that are drought tolerant and that with some of the varieties, farmers are able to do direct seeding, while for others they are able to do a ratoon, where immediately they harvest the first crop of rice, they only need to add fertiliser and harvest the second time from the ratoon. However, Dr. Omondi acknowledged that research alone cannot ensure that the value chain is strengthened; thus, they have been partnering with the private sector to address the challenge of inadequate supply of raw material.
KALRO Mwea Centre Director, Dr. Ruth Musila, mentioned that there were two projects being implemented by KALRO and supported by South Korea. The two projects include the K-Rice-built project for Africa and the development of a sustainable rice seed system, which is also being supported by KOPIA to produce certified rice seed for Kenya. “Apart from the production of the rice seed, KOPIA is also assisting us to have a state-of-the-art seed storage facility that is going to accommodate seed processing units so that the seed which is being produced can also be processed and delivered to the farmers,” added Dr Musila.
Dr. Musila further detailed the proposed Africa Rice Cultivation complex, which will also have an office block, where all the processes for seed will be done, while ensuring that certified seed in the country is affordable and that its quantities can be supplied to all the rice-growing areas in Kenya. She noted that the K-Rice project KOPIA support will include paddy fields for production that are being developed at the 65-hectare Kirogo research farm in Mwea.
Dr. Musila explained that the country is currently importing 80 per cent of what is required. In 2024, Kenya produced about 183,000 metric tonnes of milled rice, while the demand is way above 1 million metric tonnes, attributed to not having proper irrigation systems and adequate areas of production. She also mentioned that whereas about 1,000 metric tonnes of rice seed are required in the country, only about 100 to 200 metric tonnes of certified rice seed can be produced due to lack of requisite infrastructure.
On his part, the Director of KOPIA Kenya, Dr. Kik Ji Gang, shared that developing rice cultivation technology will increase rice productivity, with a focus on certified seed production. “Through increased certified seed production, we can contribute to increasing rice self-sufficiency,” he said.
Dr. Eunha Yoo, Director of the Division for KOPIA in Korea, highlighted their partnership with Kenya since 2009, launching the KOPIA Kenya Centre and carrying out various projects. “Our main achievement in KOPIA/Kenya collaboration is the increase in agricultural productivity especially rice, potato and poultry production,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan government is actively promoting industrial crops namely tea, coffee, pyrethrum, sugarcane and various fibre and oil crops as a key strategy for economic growth.