The CS said the government is fast-tracking a food diversity approach to assist Kenyans in embracing more varieties of food.
He said that demand for rice was increasing following the population surge and rapid urbanisation in the country.
The CS said the country has been working in areas of research and capacity-building for increased production.
“We have rice as one of our prime value chains and Korea has technology on rice and its varieties that our farmers can adopt,” he said
Director general of the of the Rural Development Administration, Hwang Yong Kim, said KAFACI has developed 26 high-yield and high-quality rice varieties adaptable to various African environments.
Hwang said KAFACI has pursued a diverse approach to boost agricultural productivity in Africa.
This includes developing a comprehensive database cataloguing the characteristics of various indigenous cattle breeds.
It also includes publishing an extensive research and analysis report on the status of agricultural mechanisation across the continent.
“In the next five years, we will focus on research related to the sustainability and resilience of African agriculture.
"The development of agricultural science and technology will help to promote the African economy and focus mainly on research in agricultural scientific areas,” he said.
Hwang said KAFACI has expanded to 23 member countries by 2022 and welcomed 14 more countries into the partnership.
That signified the evolution of agricultural research and development partnerships encompassing more than two-thirds of the African continent.
He said collaborative research and development projects for the next five years will be approved and shared the necessary knowledge and information for their implementation.
“We have shared the seeds of new rice varieties with the newly joined member countries,” Hwang said.
Hwang termed Kenya as a country that has been leading in climate change response efforts in Africa and holding the general assembly in the country carries symbolic significance.
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) Director General ,Eliud Kireger ,said the focus of collaboration with KAFACI is in agricultural mechanisation, especially rice.
“Our government will benefit from Sh6.4 billion (USD50 million) programme which is being rolled out in the 37 countries in Africa for the next five years.
"Out of the total extended resources, Kenya will benefit with Sh30 million for distribution of the new rice varieties,”Kireger said.
He said most Kenyan rice products were produced in similar environments across Africa.
The initiative aims at germplasm exchange varieties of rice and other products.
“We expect to increase our productivity in the next five years and cut imports by about 50 per cent,” Kireger said.
He said the biggest challenge farmers in Mwea and Ahero face was lack of mechanisation.
Kireger said Korea has developed new technologies in the mechanisation of rice production and Kenya is tapping into that innovation and knowledge.
This is to improve the mechanisation of rice farms expected to result in increased production.
“Our consumption stands at 100,000 tonnes, we are producing about 200,000 tonnes,” Kireger said.
Rice is one of the key strategic crops for food security and a source of income for rice value chain actors.
The current demand for rice per individual per year stands at 20. 6 Kilogrammes.
In 2020, the country produced 180,000 tonnes of rice, KALRO projects it will increase by 10 per cent to 520,000 tonnes by 2030.
