New rice to be introduced

By MUNENE KAMAU

Researchers from China are in the country to showcase a new high yielding rice variety which produces 240 bags per acre.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Kibicho Karanja said the researchers arrived in the country on Sunday and will be at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme where they will be able to share their findings and pass on the knowledge to the Kenya Agriculture  Research Institute (KARI).

“In Mwea, the highest a farmer can harvest rages between 30-40 bags of paddy rice per acre when in China it is 240 bags on the same piece of land and we believe this technology will be the answer to our country’s food security,” Kibicho said.

He however said the team will require 100 acres of land within Mwea on which to undertake their research.  Land set aside for the KARI  Mwea totalling to 200 acres was allegedly grabbed by well connected individuals in the early 90 s.