A joint Kenya-China agricultural laboratory has bred more than two dozen superior crop varieties over the past five years.
The move according to experts will improve food security for farmers in Kenya.
The experts involved in the project, since the Kenya-China Joint Laboratory for Crop Molecular Biology was established at Egerton University in 2019, revealed that it has used molecular breeding to develop 25 crop varieties, 18 of which have so far been commercialised.
The experts, who spoke to China Daily, said the crops developed are more disease-resistant and give higher yields than traditional crop varieties.
Once the seeds are developed, they are taken to the Agro-Science Park at Egerton University, where seed bulking and commercialisation take place.
Among the improved seeds are five bean varieties, three of which have been put onto the market. Three of these varieties have the ability to mature early.
One of the most popular is a bean given the name chelalang, a local dialect meaning a kind and beautiful young woman highly prized as a bride.
The Director of Agro-Science Park Paul Kimurto said the bean, which was put on the market in 2016, can yield up to 25 bags or 2.25 metric tonnes per hectare.
Hillary Chelal, a research assistant at Egerton University, said tatton beans have more pods than other varieties and have self-stripping leaves, meaning the beans are easier to harvest, and they can grow at medium and high altitudes, making them popular with canners.
“In partnership with Kilimo Trust, a non-profit organization working on developing agriculture in the East African Community, upland rice that requires little water is also being promoted,” he said.
Chelal noted that Kenya imports nearly 85 per cent of its rice, even though it could be rice self-sufficient.
Kilimo Trust program assistant, Joseph Orende said that by working with Egerton University to train farmers in sustainable rice production techniques, rice production has increased from two tonnes to 3.5 tonnes per hectare in two years.
With proper management, he said, rice varieties could produce 7-11 tonnes per hectare.
“Looking at what we have been able to achieve in two years, if it is sustained, this collaboration could deliver food security to Africa if replicated in many other areas and several food chains.”
