From 26th to 28th May 2025, the African Climate Action Partnership (AfCAP), in collaboration with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), hosted a country knowledge exchange visit on “Promoting Climate-Smart Rice Production in Tanzania, Liberia, and Kenya.” The event brought together rice experts and government representatives from the three countries to strengthen technical capacity, foster cross-country learning, and promote collaboration around climate-smart rice technologies and policy integration.

The first day laid the foundation for meaningful engagement, beginning with welcome remarks from Tanzanian officials and an introduction to TARI’s role in advancing rice research. AfCAP presented the objectives of the exchange and introduced the Rice Community of Practice (CoP), setting the tone for collaborative learning and regional knowledge sharing. Participants were also invited to share their expectations and network with peers from across the continent.

Morning sessions explored the broader context of rice cultivation under climate change, with experts discussing both the challenges and opportunities of adopting climate-smart practices. Country representatives from Tanzania, Kenya, and Liberia presented overviews of their national rice development strategies, offering comparative insights into efforts to enhance resilience and productivity. In the afternoon, an interactive group discussion focused on aligning national rice programmes, followed by a showcase of Tanzania’s innovations, highlighting new technologies and approaches for climate mitigation and adaptation.

The second day opened with reflections on insights gained from Day 1, providing a thoughtful transition into country-led knowledge sharing. Delegates from Kenya and Liberia presented their experiences with implementing climate-smart rice practices. Their presentations highlighted innovative field technologies, such as improved water management systems and low-emission farming methods, alongside policy frameworks that support these initiatives. These sessions provided participants with valuable perspectives on how national contexts shape the adoption of climate-smart solutions.

In the afternoon, an engaging interactive session allowed participants to discuss how lessons learned could be adapted to their own country programmes. Topics included emission reduction strategies, resilience building, and productivity enhancement, all while supporting farmer livelihoods. Key takeaways were captured by rapporteurs and shared in plenary, emphasizing the importance of continued cross-country collaboration. The day closed with an introduction to the upcoming field visits, which would allow participants to observe how research, policy, and practice intersect in Tanzania’s rice sector.

The final day of the exchange featured a field tour to key irrigation schemes and research facilities in Tanzania, offering participants a firsthand look at climate-smart innovations in action. The tour began at Murzah Wilmar Rice Millers in Morogoro, where delegates observed the full rice processing chain, from seed cleaning and milling to final packaging. This visit offered valuable insights into how private sector engagement and post-harvest technologies are improving efficiency, reducing losses, and strengthening the resilience of rice value chains.

As part of the field visit, the group also met a local rice farmer working in the paddy fields, who shared practical insights into his cultivation practices. He demonstrated key techniques such as efficient water management, crop rotation, and the use of improved seed varieties, all aimed at boosting productivity while adapting to climate variability. This visit provided participants with a ground-level perspective on how climate-smart practices are being implemented at the farm level.

This hands-on experience complemented the technical sessions held throughout the exchange, underscoring the importance of bridging the gap between research and real-world application. Witnessing these practices in the field highlighted the need for continued collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and farmers to ensure that innovations are not only developed but also adopted in ways that are practical, scalable, and sustainable.

To read more about the outcomes and next steps from the event, download the meeting report below: