From July 29-31, 2024, the African Climate Action Partnership held a workshop titled “Promoting Climate Smart Rice Cultivation in Africa” gathering rice experts from the Anglophone regions of Africa. 

The workshop focused on sharing knowledge about integrating climate-resilient and yield-enhancing rice technologies into policies aimed at reducing GHG emissions. Discussions included exploring the challenges and opportunities in the implementation of climate-smart rice practices, technologies and tools that reduce methane emissions, while increasing resilience to climate change, grain yield and farmers’ income and; identifying mechanisms through which climate-smart practices, technologies and tools can be incorporated into supportive policies and policy development. 

On the third day of the workshop, AfCAP organised a field trip for delegates to explore climate-smart rice cultivation. The morning included visits to the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO)  to observe the Seed and Seed Packaging Unit and International Rice Research Institute’s Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Farming Field. In the afternoon, delegates toured Nice Rice Mills and the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd., where they saw the rice processing from seed to packaging, concluding with a visit to a local farmer from the cooperative.

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