The Kenyan government has partnered with KiliMOL, a leading agricultural machinery import firm, and the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) to mechanize rice farming. This strategic move aims to tackle the country’s growing rice deficit, which currently stands at 75% and costs taxpayers Sh42 billion annually in imports, while enhancing food security.
Mechanization to Scale Production
Research and trials have identified mechanization as a key strategy to increase rice production from the current 250,000 metric tonnes to 1.2 million metric tonnes, meeting domestic demand. The introduction of advanced rice transplanters, including six-row and four-row models, has already shown promising results at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kirinyaga County.
Farmers using the mechanized approach have seen a significant rise in productivity, with yields increasing from 25 bags to 40 bags per acre. According to KiliMOL Agricultural Engineer Simon Mutua, the machinery ensures zero breakage and root disturbance, maximizing seedling survival compared to traditional manual planting methods.
Cost-Effective and Efficient Planting
Mechanized rice planting is not only more efficient but also cost-effective. A four-row transplanter consumes just four liters of petrol per acre, costing about Sh700, compared to the Sh9,000 needed to hire 18 people for manual planting.
The machines also ensure precise spacing and depth during planting, reducing wilting and increasing survival rates. Mutua noted that mechanized planting requires only three people per acre and can be completed in one and a half hours, enabling farmers to cover more acreage quickly and at a lower cost.
Addressing Labor Challenges
With the average age of farmers around 60 years and younger generations avoiding the physically demanding work of manual planting, mechanization offers a sustainable solution. This technology, already successful in countries like Japan, India, and Pakistan, is expected to triple Kenya’s rice production and attract more youth to the sector.
Scaling Up Adoption
To encourage uptake of the new technology, KiliMOL has established training and demonstration sites within NIA irrigation schemes. So far, 20,000 farmers have adopted the technology, with plans to onboard an additional 10,000 farmers by the end of the year.
Increased Acreage and Job Creation
Ahero Irrigation Scheme’s Operational Research Officer, Daudi Aleri, described the technology as a game-changer for reducing production costs and increasing rice acreage. This aligns with the government’s broader food security agenda and its goal to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, saving billions spent on imports.
Aleri noted that the mechanization initiative would also create more jobs across the rice value chain, from farming to trading and processing, boosting local economies.
Farmer Support and Endorsement
Farmers, like Japheth Asugo from Ahero Irrigation Scheme, have praised the initiative for reducing costs and renewing interest in rice farming. Asugo urged the Ministry of Agriculture and partners to provide more machines to expand the program, ensuring maximum benefit for farmers and increased food production.
This mechanization drive reflects the government’s commitment to modernizing agriculture and securing Kenya’s food future.
