The first locally-bred hybrid rice seed that will boost harvests by over 65 per cent is set to be available to farmers from next week.
Western Kenya Afritec Seeds Ltd Manager Ken Asango said 10 tonnes of the seed dubbed AT058 or ‘Atieno’ had been registered by Kephis awaiting official launching and release into the market in Kisumu, Migori, Kirinyaga, Busia and Homa Bay counties.
Trials in Ahero and West Kano irrigation schemes showed that the variety yields up to 35 bags of rice per acre compared to between 15 and 20 produced by the traditional rice variety.
Already, about 50 farmers who tried the seed under supervision by Afritec raked in Sh40,000 per acre. The main advantage of the new variety is that it can be grown in any part of the country all year round.
It is also said to be resistant to common rice diseases. Mr Asango said if adapted by farmers in the target regions, the seed had the potential to increase domestic supply by up to 60 per cent. He said although the firm’s seed invention would not make the country self-sufficient in rice production, it would lower the costs incurred in importing it. “We can make a dent in the rice import bill; we can add 50 or 60 per cent to total production, which would bring us down from 80 per cent in imports to 70 per cent,” he said.
Afritec is also working in Mwea, where trials for a variety the firm believes will replace the area’s famous pishori have been concluded awaiting approval by Kephis. The firm is working on over 180 varieties that will be released into the market once approved.