Overview:

R4iCSA is a 2 years pilot project (2020-2022) that will concentrate on introducing regenerative agriculture in rice-based farming systems through sustainable rice cultivation, inter/rotational cropping with leguminous species and management of crop waste streams. The project is funded by IKEA Foundation and will be implemented by Kilimo Trust in partnership with public and private sector partners. R4iCSA will work with 5,000 smallholder farmers comprising 3,000 in Eastern Uganda and 2,000 in Kenya (1,000 in Kisumu County and another 1,000 farmers in Busia County).

Project goal:

Overall goal:  Increased adoption of sustainable rice production practices for 5,000 smallholder rice farmers and other value chain actors in Kenya and Uganda

Specific objectives:

1. To promote the use of innovative technologies and management practices for sustainable rice farming systems.
2. To generate empirical evidence of the developed and tested business models in the utilization of products and by-products of rice farming systems to drive scaling up the models.

Outcomes of Project:

1. Increased adoption of sustainable rice practices (SRPs)
2. Business cases on utilization of products and by-products from rice and other complementary farm enterprises
3. Adaptability and economic benefits of rice-legumes (cow peas, chickpeas and short duration pigeon peas) rotational system documented.
4. Evidence based knowledge products on circular and regenerative models to influence policy shift.

Expected Results:

• At least 10% increase in yields of rice as result of adoption of sustainable rice practices.
• Improved soil health status in the rice fields.
• Feasibility analyses for investment in different rice products produced.
• Business cases and plans for investment in utilization of rice by-products developed and published. 
• At least 50% of target rice farmers are using sustainable rice practices (SRPs) and other technologies.
• Diversified income sources from rice products and by-products especially for women and youth. 
• At least 4 rice millers have developed business plans to implement business cases on rice by-products.
• Rice by-products prototypes developed and pre-tested for commercial viability by at least two technical institutions.

Contact Person:

Anthony Mugambi - amugambi@kilimotrust.org