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The Project on Rice Research for Tailor-made Breeding and Cultivation Technology Development in Kenya

Bioresources

Republic of Kenya

Finished

The Project on Rice Research for Tailor-made Breeding and Cultivation Technology Development in Kenya

Creating Rice Varieties and Cultivation Technology Tailor-made for Kenya's Environment

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  YAMAUCHI Akira
  Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University
- Dr.
  Eliud K. Kireger
  Director General, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Kenya

Research Institutions in Japan

Nagoya University / Okayama University / Shimane University / Yamagata University

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2012

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Developing superior rice varieties and cultivation methods that maximize each variety's potential
In many sub-Saharan African countries, a pressing issue is boosting rice production because the growth in domestic rice production is insufficient for the increase in consumption. Kenya is executing a policy to double rice production, but has to address impediments such as drought, cold weather at high elevation areas, low soil fertility and rice blast disease. By using technologies such as molecular breeding and DNA marker-assisted selection, the project advances the development of rice varieties carrying useful genes to overcome stress conditions in Kenya. After assessing current cultivation practices, the project aims to develop cultivation technologies that maximize the potential of individual rice varieties and ensure sustainable rice production.

Fostering both rice and researchers to address food shortages in sub-Saharan Africa
Combining tailor-made rice varieties suitable to Kenya’s cultivation environments with optimum cultivation methods lead to an improvement of productivity and stability in rice production. The project contributes to achieving the goal of CARD*, a consultative group of bilateral donors and regional and international organizations working in collaboration with rice-producing African countries. It will also assist the development of human resources for rice research both in Kenya and Japan. * CARD: Coalition for African Rice Development