Irrigation schemes brace for increased production after state invests $5.1m in rice farming
According to the project brief, the Kabong’o scheme will directly benefit 240 households and create an estimated 5,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs. Farmers are projected to earn gross revenues of approximately Ksh250,000 per acre per season, translating to about Ksh250 million annually across 1.6 cropping seasons once the scheme is fully operational.
High Court approves phased duty-free rice imports to bridge current huge national deficit
However, the court noted that the government had demonstrated that imports were necessary to address a national rice deficit and prevent a looming shortage. Justice Muriithi observed that Kenya’s current rice production cannot meet domestic demand, forcing the country to rely heavily on imports to bridge the gap.
Kenya to kill weaver birds estimated to be six million that ravaging rice plantations in Lake Victoria Basin
The report indicates that about 800 acres of rice, most of it at panicle initiation and early harvesting stages are under immediate threat, with farmers already reporting heavy losses.
Steady, reliable water supply in central Kenya’s Mwea Irrigation Scheme pushes up rice output
Currently, Kenya produces about 304,000 metric tonnes of rice annually against a national demand of approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes.
Kenyan court gives government greenlight to import 250,000 metric tonnes of rice
The court ordered respondents to submit a progress report by November 3, 2025, detailing local production, farmers’ stock replenishment and actual deficit, with further instructions due on the same day when the petition will proceed to a full hearing.
Minister: Kenya on verge acute rice shortage after court blocked importation of 500,000 tonnes
The cabinet secretary warned that the current retail price of Grade One milled white rice has already surged to between Ksh190 and Ksh220 per kilogramme, a steep rise from last year’s duty-free period average of Ksh150 per kilogramme.
KARLO invests in rice ratoon technology to push up Kenya’s output from current 183,000 tonnes per year
The director noted 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 fertilizer and harvest the second time from the ratoon.
