By JAMES KARIUKIMore by this AuthorNew varieties and government investments in rice growing has seen production rise by 51.7 percent in Mwea with farmers taking home Sh3.5 billion representing a 94.4 percent rise compared to 2017. The good tidings appear to have revived interest in rice farming with area under cultivation rising by 30,669 hectares leased from the National Irrigation Board by 541 farmers, bringing land under rice cultivation in Mwea to 89,960 hectares. Rice harvestsResearchers working under the Hybrid Rice Project have reported success in developing 15 rice varieties, which tripled rice harvests during national field trials to between seven and 10 tonnes per hectare where fewer diseases were reported. African Agricultural Technology Foundation Rice Project manager Kayode Sanni said this would be the first time Kenya has developed its own rice varieties after successful tests in Mwea, Malindi and Hola trial farms. “With the law requiring a minimum of two National Performance Trials (NPTs), the project is now looking forward to the next step in the commercialisation process— conducting the distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) trials.

Source: Daily Nation May 12, 2019 18:56 UTC