3 June 2008
Nairobi — A breed of rice has been introduced in two North Rift districts to boost food security.
The trials of New Rice for Africa (Nerica) were done in 2004 and seems to be doing well, according to two organisations.
The variety, a mixture of Asian and native west African was introduced to Keiyo and Marakwet districts by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and Community Agricultural Development Project for Semi-Arid Lands (Cadsal)
According to the Cadsal project manager for Keiyo and Marakwet districts Mr David Mutisya, the trials were in the last phase. The rice matures in a period of about four months and does well in highlands, medium and lowland areas.
Much water
It was first tried in Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari) farm in Kibos, Kisumu, in 2003. It has also been grown in Matuga, Mwea, Bungoma, Busia, Juja, Kabete, Kwale and Kerio Valley areas.
The rice does not need much water unlike others which grow in paddies. It is rain-fed and drought resistant. Some 40 kilogrammes of seeds have been provided to the farmers this year.
Meanwhile, Kerio Valley residents have a reason to smile after an organisation in conjunction with the ministry of Agriculture launched a project of rearing camels in the region.
The first phase of the project involved the buying of six camels with the help of Jica and donated to Lapkeiyet camel production group.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
