b'WORLD STATUSKenya adopts Rice Sector Development Hub approach to achieve rice self-sufficiency.KENYAecologies as well as the Taita TO MEET THE growing demand for rice, Kenya hasTaveta Hub, where rice is embarked on an aggressive campaign, guided bygrown under lowland irrigated, its National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS)lowland rainfed and upland Phase 2, which runs from 2019 to 2030. Therainfed ecologies.NDRDS Phase 2 aims to catalyze an over seven- The EARiSS project is fold increase in domestic milled rice production:expected to play a key role in from 112,000 tons in 2018 to 846,000 tons in 2030. economic empowerment ofKenya is one of the three intervention coun- the local communities in these tries of the project Strengthening the rice sectorHubs and contribute to food in East Africa for improved productivity andsecurity in line with the ASTGS competitiveness of domestic rice (EARiSS). Theand the BIG4 agenda.project aims to enhance the performance of localThe goal of the EARiSS rice value chains. project is to improve food Kenyan partners involved in the implementa- and income security in target tion of the EARiSS project participated in a work- countries. Its objectives shop to identify Rice Sector Development Hubsinclude adapting appropriate in the country. Rice Hubs represent key rice- rice technologies and innova-growing environments and market opportunities,rainfed. The EARiSS project willtions; strengthening functional where research products, services and local inno- work in two of these Hubs; thelinkages in the value chain; vations are integrated across rice value chains, toCentral Hub that includes rice- and improving the capacity of achieve development outcomes and impact.growing regions in Kirinyaga,farmers and other stakehold- Nine Hubs were identified across Kenya,Muranga and Embu where theers to increase both production spanning the three rice-growing ecologies:crop is grown under lowlandand productivity of rice in the lowland irrigated, lowland rainfed and uplandirrigated and rain-fed uplandregion. Source: AfricaRice 54GERMINATION.CANOVEMBER 2020'