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Sustainable Rice Initiative for Kenya (SRI-K)

January 23, 2026 by
Sustainable Rice Initiative for Kenya (SRI-K)
Joram Kiyemba

Project Title: Sustainable Rice Initiative for Kenya (SRI-K)

Period of implementation: August 2025 – June 2028.

Target Counties: Western Counties: Kisumu, Siaya, Busia, Homabay and Migori. Eastern Counties: Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi

Funded by: AGRA.

Project goal: To increase food security and incomes for 25,000 Women, Men and Young People Employed in the rice sector through sustainable production and expanded market opportunities in Kenya by 2028.

Project Objective: SRI-K Project objectives are: a. Increase awareness and benefits of adopting sustainable rice practices among farmers. b. Expand and strengthen access to inclusive markets, trade, and finance including strengthening access to seeds of demanded varieties. c. Improve the enabling environment for an integrated rice farming sector in Kenya.

Implementation approach: 

The project applies a consortium approach on implementation of SRPs which are related to Regenerative Agriculture, these initiatives include: - 

  • Use of certifies seeds 
  • Proportionate use of organic and inorganic fertilizers 
  • Intermittent watering. 
  • Paddy field leveling 
  • Bunding 
  • Offseason cropping through production of legumes and ALVs. 

To deepen the impact and strengthen stakeholders’ inclusion, local ToTs are involved to conduct training through demo plot establishment, field monitoring, provision of advisory services, organise farmer schools and field days. On resource leverage, the program operates through partnership and collaborations such as: - 

  1. with farmer groups and cooperatives. 
  2. with research institutions AIRS, Egerton and KALRO. 
  3. with partner institutions NGOs JICA/CaDPERP. 
  4. with partner county governments though MoAs. 
  5. with private enterprises millers, mechanization firms and traders.

Project activities: 

Expected Results: 

  1. At least 20 Business Linkages between buyers and sellers of products and services have been established. 
  2. At least 100mt of improved rice seed accessed by farmers. 
  3. 20,000 Farmers trained on identified gaps in production, harvesting and postharvest handling, product utilization and marketing. 
  4. 20 demo plots established 
  5. At least 2 Digital extension solutions rolled out to extension agents to enhance last-mile delivery of goods and services to farmers. 
  6. 20 Farmer Based Organizations (FBOs) and SMEs capacity (on food safety, Farmer/Processor Business School (FBS) quality and standards) promoted. 
  7. contracts between buyers and suppliers are established to trade in at least 10,000mt of commodities (rice, legumes and ALVs). 
  8. USD 10m commodities sold through structured markets 
  9. 10 Policy dialogue meetings to develop policy briefs on regenerative agriculture held. 
  10. At least 5,000 mt of farm inputs are accessed by the project’s beneficiaries. 
  11. At least 10% increase in yield for target commodities. 
  12. At least 500 hectares of land under sustainable production 
  13. 2 policy briefs developed on regenerative production and organic fertilizers and water conservation.
  14. 8 business plans development for investment in innovative regenerative enterprises 
  15. At least 5,000 jobs created the majority among the youth. 
  16. At least 5% increase of income by farmers and at least 5% increase in profitability for SMEs because of the project’s intervention 
  17. At least 8 SMEs are engaged by the project as business consortium service providers to smallholder farmers. 
  18. 8,000 farmers applied improved technologies or management practices and selling produce through structured trading facilities/arrangements.