Enhancing rice productivity through introduction of improved varieties and advanced cultivation technologies in Kenya

Principal Investigator (Affiliation)	Associate Prof. MAKIHARA Daigo International Center for Research and Education in Agriculture, Nagoya University
Co-investigator	Associate Prof. DOI Kazuyuki Graduate School of Bioagricultural Science, Nagoya University Designated Assistant Prof. KIKUTA Mayumi Applied Social System Institute of Asia, Nagoya University Prof. SAKURAI Takeshi Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Science, The University of Tokyo
Research Participant	Prof. ASHIKARI Motoyuki Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University Prof. SAKAKIBARA Hitoshi Graduate School of Bioagricultural Science, Nagoya University Assistant Prof. SUGIURA Daisuke Graduate School of Bioagricultural Science, Nagoya University Assistant Prof. NAGAI Keisuke Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University Associate Prof. TSUJI Hiroyuki Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University
International Coordinator	Associate Prof. MAKIHARA Daigo International Center for Research and Education in Agriculture, Nagoya University
Research Institutions in Japan	Nagoya University / The University of Tokyo
Cooperating Organization in Japan
Partner Country	Republic of Kenya
Research Institutions in Kenya	Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) / National Irrigation Board (NIB)
Cooperating organization in Kenya	Ministry of Agriculture Livestock and Fisheries / Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)
Support Organization	Seed producing entities / Rice growers / Rice production-related entities ( harvesting / storage / milling / marketing etc.)
General Description of the Research Project	In many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, rice consumption has been on a rapid increase in recent years and improving rice productivity is a key food security challenge for the region. In this region, rice yield has remained low owing to various biotic and abiotic stress factors such as drought, cold weather at high elevations, and disease and insect damage. The aim of this project is to demonstrate that improved rice varieties introgressed with genes for useful agronomic traits by crossbreeding and marker selection coupled with cultivation techniques that maximize their potential can significantly increase rice production in Kenya. To achieve this objective, the project will focus on the promotion of the processes involved in the release of new and improved varieties of rice developed during the course of the previous research, and the establishment of a seed production system for efficient distribution of the new and improved varieties to farmers. In addition, a demonstration of double cropping using the cold-tolerant variety in farmers’ plots in the Mwea irrigation scheme, which extends from 1100 to 1200 m above sea level in Kenya, to evaluate the productivity and to determine the socioeconomic impact of the improved rice cultivation technology will be undertaken.
Links	Research projects for development of rice cultivation in Africa International Center for Research and Education in Agriculture SATREPS Project on "" Rice Research for Tailor-name Breeding and Cultivation Technology Development in Kenya SATREPS Project JICA　ODA見える化サイト