Feature: Kenyan officials benefit from Chinese-funded training on rice production

Gladys Mwafungo, a senior agricultural officer in Kenya's coastal county of Kilifi and her five colleagues have sharpened their skills in rice production thanks to a two month training program sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in June last year.

During an interview with Xinhua on Sunday evening, Mwafungo said her study tour to China's Yuan Longping Agricultural Hitech Institute exposed her to cutting edge technologies on production of hybrid rice.

"I went to China mid last year for an exchange program on hybrid rice production sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce. The two month training focused on technologies used in production of high yielding rice varieties," said Mwafungo.

Mwafungo's two months training in China will boost efforts to transform a sector that is the bedrock of Kenya's economy.

"Having gained knowledge on how to bleed hybrid rice, I'm in a better position to advice the national and county governments on how to scale up cultivation of this crop to achieve food security," Mwafungo said.

Rice is among top five staples that are critical to attainment of food and nutritional security in Kenya.

The Kenyan ministry of agriculture and bilateral partners has scaled up investments in irrigation and research to boost rice production in the country.

Mwafungo underscored the critical role of modern technology to enhance rice production against a backdrop of huge demand.

"Hybrid rice could help us tackle hunger and malnutrition that has become pronounced due to climate change and shrinking arable land," said Mwafungo.

Since her return to Kenya in mid August last year, Mwafungo has been advising the county government of Kilifi on strategies that should be adopted to boost rice farming.

"We have already submitted a concept note to our seniors to help shed light on viable ways of growing hybrid rice in Kilifi County," Mwafungo told Xinhua.

She disclosed the county government of Kilifi will soon approve a proposal to fund establishment of demonstration plots to train farmers on rice cultivation.

"Our goal is to train farmers on cultivation of hybrid rice to supplement maize growing. Rice is a major staple in the coast region," said Mwafungo, adding that training programs for ministry of agriculture staff on hybrid rice cultivation are in the pipeline.

Sino-Kenya agricultural cooperation that has blossomed lately is critical to food production and biodiversity conservation in the east African nation.

Mwafungo said that China's model on agriculture modernization offers vital lessons to Kenya.

"China has overcome food insecurity by adopting agricultural technologies to boost yields. Kenya should hasten adoption of bleeding technologies, research and irrigation to transform the agriculture sector," Mwafungo said. Enditem