Kenya’s reliance on rice imports could ease through a large-scale farming initiative in Tana River County, backed by a partnership between Equity Bank Kenya and South Africa’s Agri All Africa to strengthen the country’s agricultural value chain and enhance food security.
The initiative, launched by President William Ruto alongside Priscillah Dimakhatso, Co-founder of Boholo Group and Director at Agri All Africa, is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Tana & Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA)
Priscillah Dimakhatso, a director at Agri All Africa and co-founder of Boholo Group, explained that the partnership seeks to revive the region’s agricultural potential while reducing Kenya’s dependence on imported rice.
"We partnered with the government of Kenya through TARDA in a Public-Private Partnership initiative to revive and bring to the surface the immense agricultural potential of this area, and in so doing, help address the rice deficit in the country, which is currently met through importation," she said.
Beyond financial support, Equity Bank was brought on board for its expertise in agribusiness and its track record in community-driven economic empowerment.
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Dimakhatso noted that the bank's involvement was crucial due to its experience in fostering agricultural ecosystems.
"We engaged Equity not just as a financial institution but as a partner with a deep understanding of agribusiness ecosystems and community empowerment through the Equity Group Foundation," she stated.
The project has already faced challenges, particularly the heavy rains in 2023 that damaged a significant portion of the crops.
However, the team analysed the surviving fields to refine their approach for the next planting season.
"We lost significant acreage, but over 370 acres survived. That was a valuable lesson," she noted.
"We studied what made that crop resilient and came back stronger with a second crop, determined to contribute towards reducing Kenya’s reliance on rice imports."
So far, 1,300 acres have been cultivated, with plans to expand to over 4,000 acres within the year.
At full capacity, the project is expected to yield over 20,000 tonnes of rice annually, averaging three tonnes per acre.
During a visit to the farm in Gamba, Tana River County, Equity Bank Kenya Managing Director Moses Nyabanda pointed out Africa’s vast agricultural potential compared to its actual contribution to global food production.
He cited statistics showing that despite having large amounts of arable land, the continent still lags in food production.
"One of the challenges we’ve seen over the past 40 years is that Africa doesn’t punch at its weight level," he remarked.
"Despite having 60 per cent of the world’s arable land, we only produce 10 per cent of global food crops. Agri All Africa has demonstrated what’s possible when agricultural projects are structured for scale, and we see this as a model worth supporting."
Nyabanda further explained that Equity Bank views agriculture as a critical pillar for economic growth.
He said the bank’s approach is not limited to financing but also includes market linkages, technical assistance, and tailored financial solutions for agribusinesses.
"We’re not just looking at agriculture as a sector to finance; we see it as a pillar of economic growth," he said.
"Through our ecosystem approach, we are keen to explore ways to support structured agricultural development, whether through technical assistance, market linkages, or financial instruments tailored to the needs of agribusiness players."
He also emphasised the need for investment in technology, mechanisation, and efficiency to maximise yields.
According to him, agriculture must be seen as an integrated value chain rather than just crop production.
"We believe in solutions that go beyond transactions. Structured collaborations that integrate value chains—from inputs to processing and distribution—are key to ensuring food security and economic empowerment," he added.
The project covers the entire rice production process, from planting to milling, with a focus on sustainability and efficiency. Dimakhatso stressed the importance of collaboration among financial institutions, technology providers, and government agencies to scale up such initiatives.
"Equity’s ecosystem approach offers a platform that could help scale this initiative.
There is potential to support outgrowers, improve access to quality inputs, and strengthen market linkages," she stated.
Beyond food production, the initiative aims to uplift local communities.
Dimakhatso revealed that the majority of the workforce consists of women and that the broader objective is to create sustainable livelihoods beyond agriculture.
"Beyond rice production, we are also focused on community development—80 per cent of our workforce are women, and our goal is to create not just jobs, but a thriving local economy with access to education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods," she said.
She also highlighted the financial barriers that women face in agribusiness, calling for structured financing solutions to ensure long-term sustainability.
"Large-scale projects like ours require long-term commitment and structured financing tools. Women, especially those in agriculture, need access to reasonable financing—not cheap, but fair. If we can unlock that, the ripple effects will be transformative for the industry and the country," she remarked.
With strong institutional backing and structured partnerships, the Agri All Africa rice production initiative in Kenya could significantly transform agriculture, strengthen food security, and serve as a model for large-scale, sustainable farming in the region.
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