The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has launched a KSh 1.3 billion state-of-the-art wheat research facility in Njoro, Nakuru County, in partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). The new rust research greenhouse aims to accelerate the development of disease-resistant wheat varieties, addressing critical challenges such as climate change, soil degradation, and emerging wheat diseases.
Enhancing Disease Resistance
The facility will enhance screening for wheat diseases, ensuring farmers receive high-yielding, resistant seeds. Dr. Bram Hovartz, CIMMYT Director General, emphasized the importance of the facility in testing new wheat varieties against evolving pathogens. “Farmers can now access seeds that withstand diseases, improving productivity,” he said. The center also includes a cold room for seed storage and multiplication.
Kenya currently imports 80% of its wheat due to low local production. Dr. Felister Makini, KALRO Deputy Director (Crops), highlighted the facility’s role in boosting domestic output. “We are refining disease-resistant varieties to increase yields and reduce reliance on imports,” she said. KALRO has already released new wheat varieties and urged farmers to adopt certified seeds instead of recycling old ones, which increases disease susceptibility.
Dr. Makini clarified that the new varieties are developed through traditional breeding, not genetic modification. “Disease outbreaks are due to natural factors, not GMOs,” she assured.
Dr. Sridhar Bhavani, CIMMYT’s Principal Scientist, noted that over 250 high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat varieties have been released in Africa in the past 15 years. The Njoro facility will serve as a breeding hub for Kenya and beyond, distributing improved seeds through the Wheat Improvement Network for Africa, benefiting 16 countries.
The initiative also focuses on educating farmers on best practices, including fungicide use and climate-resilient farming. With new varieties yielding 6-8 tonnes per hectare—double older varieties the project aims to transform wheat farming in Kenya and across the continent.
This investment marks a significant step toward food security, offering hope for Kenya’s agricultural future amid climate challenges.
