National Rice Development Strategy (2008-2018). Country/Territory Kenya Document type Date 2008 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Agricultural & rural development, Food & nutrition, Cultivated plants, Water Keyword Agricultural development Crops/grasses Food security Rural employment Agricultural commodities Cereals/grains/rice Irrigation Geographical area Africa, AFRICA FAO, Eastern Africa Abstract This policy is developed by the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture to enhance food security and cater for the livelihood of the Kenyan people. The plan outlines what the Ministry intends to accomplish and how it will set its mission, objectives and strategies towards realizing the desired goals. The overall goal of the policy is to improve food security and income of Kenyans through sustainable rice production, marketing and utilization while the vision is to achieve a vibrant rice sector contributing significantly to improved livelihoods, food security and economic growth. overall objective is to double rice production in both rains fed and irrigated conditions by 2018 through: Expansion of area under rainfed and irrigated rice; Reduction in field and storage losses of rice; Improved farmer’s access to credit and to high quality inputs; Improved farmers’ access to certified rice seed; Provision of advisory extension support services; Provision of effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system; and Strengthened human resource development. The policy starts off by recognizing the importance of rice in the fight against hunger and cites FAO’s role in the research and development of rice for the benefit of the livelihoods of communities in sub Saharan Africa. It notes that promotion of rice production will improve food security, increase the income of smallholder farmers and contribute to job creation in the rural areas. Specifically, the strategic plan is to chart the course of rice production for the next 20 years in five year phases. The policy, in analyzing rice production details the rice mills, the production scale of rice and rice trading within the country. It further details the gender dimensions and issues in rice production, processing and trading by mentioning that both genders, including children are involved at the various levels of production and trading. It tasks the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to enforce compliance of rice standards on imported and local rice and remarks that the locally produced rice maintains a higher quality than the imported ones, it further harped on the importance of increased local production to the national economy. The policy noted the challenges to rice production to include the land tenure system, labour scarcity caused by urban migration, social issues like diseases and illnesses, unfavourable trans-boundary trade practice, high cost of farm inputs and machinery, amongst others. The policy also denotes the hugely potential priority areas with the suitable climatic conditions where there should be doubled emphasis on rice production. The policy makes for the establishment, composition and terms of reference of the National Rice Stakeholders’ Forum to aid in priority setting and implementation of interventions identified in the policy. Essentially, it provides for the organizational structure of the policy, and places the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture as the head of this structure, who may in turn appoint the lead implementer of the policy. Full text English Website www.fao.org