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The Daily Insight

What rice is grown in Kenya?

Author

John Kim

Updated on April 23, 2026

The first dominant rice variety in Kenya is the irrigated aromatic rice Basmati 217. Other traditional irrigated rice cultivars grown by farmers include Sindano, ITA310 and BW196. The Basmati 370 was introduced to farmers as an irrigated aromatic variety in the country in the late 1990s as an improved variety.

Also to know is, where is rice grown in Kenya?

In Kenya rice is mainly produced by small-scale farmers in Central (Mwea), Western (Bunyala), Coast (Tana delta, Msambweni) and Nyanza provinces (Ahero, West Kano, Migori and Kuria). About 300,000 rice farmers provide labour and also earn their livelihood out of the crop's production.

Likewise, where is Pishori rice grown in Kenya? Mwea region

In this way, which is the best rice in Kenya?

Butterfly Rice

What are the main crops grown in Kenya?

The main food crops in Kenya are maize (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), peas (Pisum sativum), bananas (Musa spp.) and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). Maize (Zea mays) is the principal staple food of Kenya and it is grown in 90 per cent of all Kenyan farms.

Related Question Answers

How long does rice take to grow in Kenya?

four to five months

Where does rice grow best?

To grow rice, your garden must be in full sun and offer a three- to six-month growing season with average temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, water-retentive soil, a reliable source of water for irrigation, and a way to drain the water when you're ready to harvest.

What are the requirements for growing rice?

Rice grows best in areas of warm, humid climate; rice requires temperatures between 20°C and 35°C and a well-distributed rainfall of about 100 cm or irrigation facilities. Fertile soil. Delta and valley soils are the most suitable.

How long does it take rice to mature for harvest?

3-6 months

How long does rice take to mature?

Rice plants grow to a height of three to four feet over an average of 120 days after planting. During this time, farmers irrigate the rice fields using the method that best fits that field or farm.

When did Kenya get rice?

1907

How do I grow rice in my backyard?

8 steps to growing rice
  1. Choose a garden-friendly variety of rice, like Duborskian.
  2. Start the seeds indoors under grow lights or in a sunny windowsill six weeks before the last expected spring frost.
  3. Transplant seedlings to a sunny, well amended spot in the garden once all risk of frost has passed.

Can rice grow in red soil?

Cotton, wheat, rice, beans, millets, tobacco, oilseeds, potatoes, and fruits are some of the appropriate crops for red soils. The red soils are mainly loamy and thus, like the black soils, can not retain water.

How much is 1kg of rice in Kenya?

The rice is popular for its pocket friendly price and is currently retailing at KSh 78 per kilogram, it goes on wholesale at the price of Kshs72 per kilogram and Kshs1, 800 per 25-kilogram bag.

Which is the best basmati rice in Kenya?

Pishori Rice

How much is a kg of sugar in Kenya?

In the year before, the same amount cost 132.62 KSh (around 1.2 U.S. dollar).

Average retail price of sugar in Kenya from 2015 to 2019 (in Kenyan shillings per kilogram)

Characteristic Price of sugar in Kenyan shillings per kilogram
2019* 109.87
2018 132.62
2017 137.82
2016 118.21

How much is 1kg basmati rice?

Daawat Biryani Basmati Rice, 1kg
M.R.P.: ₹ 220.00
Price: ₹ 165.00 (₹ 165.00 / kg)
You Save: ₹ 55.00 (25%)
Inclusive of all taxes

How can you tell Rice is good?

The user decides what 'good quality' rice is.
  1. whole and broken grains.
  2. shape and size of the grain.
  3. color of grain.
  4. chalkiness.
  5. weight.
  6. damaged and discolored kernels.
  7. foreign material like dirt, stones,…
  8. moisture content of the grain.

Is Basmati a hybrid rice?

There are several varieties of basmati rice. Scientists at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi, used conventional plant breeding to produce a hybrid semi-dwarf plant which had most of the good features of traditional basmati (grain elongation, fragrance, alkali content).

What is the cost of 1kg rice?

India Gate Basmati Rice Pouch, Classic, 1kg
M.R.P.: ₹ 210.00
Price: ₹ 174.00 (₹ 174.00 / kg)
You Save: ₹ 36.00 (17%)
Inclusive of all taxes

How much is a kg of rice?

1 kilo rice uncooked = 2.2 pounds / 5 cups uncooked = 3 kg ( 25 cups / 6.5 lbs) cooked (Will serve 25 people). 1 cup rice uncooked = 7 oz / 200 g = 600 g ( 5 cups / 21 oz in weight) cooked [2] (Will serve 5 people). 1 pound of rice = 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 cups uncooked = 11 cups cooked (Will serve 11 people).

How do you make pure Pishori Rice?

Steps
  1. I don't wash cil rice, soak rice in a water for 20min.
  2. Add rice and 2cups of water in a pot, bring it to boil and reduce heat.
  3. Add salt and cooking oil, a little bit of unsalted butter, bring to boil, reduce heat to low,.the pot with lid and let it simmer for 10_15min.

What is Kenya's biggest export?

Kenya's chief exports are horticultural products and tea. In 2005, the combined value of these commodities was US$1,150 million, about 10 times the value of Kenya's third most valuable export, coffee. Kenya's other significant exports are petroleum products, sold to near neighbours, fish, cement, pyrethrum, and sisal.

What is Kenya famous for producing?

Kenya is a leading producer of tea and coffee, as well as the third-leading exporter of fresh produce, such as cabbages, onions and mangoes. Small farms grow most of the corn and also produce potatoes, bananas, beans, peas and chillies.

Which is the most profitable crop in Kenya?

Tomatoes

Which farming is most profitable?

Here are the Most Lucrative Agriculture Business Ideas:
  • Agricultural Farm.
  • 10 Most Profitable Livestock Farming Business Ideas.
  • Vermicompost Organic Fertilizer Production.
  • Dried Flower Business.
  • Fertilizer Distribution Business.
  • Organic Farm Green House.
  • Poultry Farming.
  • Mushroom Farming Business.

Which is the best farming in Kenya?

8 Profitable farming ventures on just ¼ acre of land in Kenya.
  • Mushroom farming. Mushroom farming is not very old in Kenya.
  • Garlic farming. Garlic is a high value horticultural crop.
  • Fish farming. Kenyans used to depend on the lakes and rivers for fish, but not anymore.
  • Poultry.
  • Passion fruit farming.
  • Greenhouse farming.
  • Dairy farming.
  • Bee keeping.

What fruit is grown in Kenya?

Kenya grows plums, pears, apples, grapes, oranges, lemons, tangerines, bananas, loquat, dates, pawpaws, pineapple, avocados, peaches, apricots and passion fruit. Most fruit is grown in the Highlands region.

Does cotton grow in Kenya?

In Kenya, cotton is currently grown solely by small-scale farmers in Western, Nyanza, Central, Rift Valley, Eastern and Coast Provinces of Kenya. Cotton in the country is mainly grown in arid and semi arid areas where there are limited economic activities.

How much food is produced in Kenya?

Such farms are more concerned with producing crops for profit than in producing food for local subsistence consumption. Kenya normally produces only 35 to 40 percent of its domestic wheat requirements, which are estimated at 650,000 tons per year.

What are the major imports and exports of Kenya?

Kenya's main exports are horticultural products, tea, coffee, fish and cement. Its main imports are machinery, transport equipment, petroleum, iron, steel, resins and plastics. Kenya is the largest importer of used motor vehicles in Africa.