Vanga: The sun rises slowly over the vast paddies of Vanga in Lunga Lunga, casting golden rays across the flooded fields where Maulidi Mwasema has already begun her day. She walks barefoot through the knee-deep waters with deliberate, practiced movements. As a widow raising grandchildren, her routine is harsh yet filled with quiet resilience, a portrait of Kenya’s coastal rice farmers who work tirelessly to feed both their families and the nation.

According to Kenya News Agency, her story mirrors that of hundreds of farmers along Kenya’s coastline who, despite unrelenting hardships, cling to their farms with a blend of perseverance, necessity, and renewed hope. ‘We have been trained and are satisfied with the quality of training we got,’ she says, resting briefly with her hoe. But the lessons cannot erase the grueling realities of pests, disease, and erratic weather. Bacteria in irrigation water often causes skin diseases, while birds devour the maturing grain. ‘Birds are our main challenge. We spend long hours chasing them away,’ she laments. During the rainy season, the situation worsens as farmers guard their fields in cold, heavy rains without protective gear. ‘After all the manual work, I can’t properly care for my grandchildren because I’m too tired,’ Mwasema adds.

Harvesting, which should bring relief, remains strenuous. With no access to mechanized equipment, farmers harvest rice by hand, leaving many injured. ‘While harvesting, my hands get hurt to the extent that I can’t do anything else,’ says Mnyazi Tsuma from Vanga. Still, Tsuma continues farming out of necessity. ‘Despite the challenges, rice farming has helped us educate our children,’ she says, urging for better markets and cooperative support.

A turning point came in April 2025 when the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), in partnership with the Korea Partnership for Innovation in Agriculture (KOPIA), launched a three-year rice improvement project in Kilifi, Kwale, and Taita Taveta counties. The initiative trains 100 farmers per season in each county and introduces Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) alongside a high-yielding rice variety known as Komboka. ‘Before the training, we harvested very little. But now our production has improved,’ says Regina Kadzo Katana. The Komboka variety matures in just four months and yields over seven tonnes per hectare, far higher than traditional varieties.

In Kaloleni, farmer Bakari Jeffa affirms the change. ‘With proper fertilizer use, we can now plant for both food and sale,’ he says, noting that adoption of the new variety could transform coastal rice production. According to Dr. John Kimani from KALRO, the project aims to boost rice output by 30 percent, and potentially 60 percent if all farmers adopt the recommended practices. ‘Kenya currently produces only 200,000-300,000 metric tonnes of rice against a national demand of 1-1.3 million tonnes,’ he said, stressing the urgency of the project.

The initiative aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which targets national rice self-sufficiency by 2030. Joseph Odhiambo, the Crops Development Officer in Kilifi, said Komboka’s performance is promising. ‘Traditional rice gives less than one tonne per hectare, while Komboka yields over seven,’ he explained, adding that county irrigation programs and input subsidies are complementing the national project. The Korean team, led by rice cultivation expert Dr. Sang Yeol Kim, brings technical expertise through demonstration plots in Vanga, Kaloleni, and Taveta, enabling farmers to compare traditional and improved practices. ‘The technology focuses on both productivity and sustainability,’ said Dr. Kim, noting that Taveta could surpass Mwea and Ahero due to its abundant water resources.

Farmers are already ordering Komboka seeds for the next planting season, a sign of growing confidence in the project’s potential. As evening falls over Vanga, Mwasema gathers her tools, her silhouette framed against the glowing horizon. Though weary, her eyes reflect renewed hope. ‘The government should provide machines for harvesting and protective gear for the rainy season,’ she pleads. For farmers like her, transformation has begun, but lasting progress will depend on continued mechanization, market access, and financial support. If these efforts are sustained, by 2027 the story of coastal rice farming could shift from one of struggle to one of prosperity, dignity, and restored pride.