Research Areas

1. Breeding
2. Agronomy
3. Natural resources management
4. Post-harvest handling and value addition
5. Crop health
6. Technology adoption, markets and policy
7. Food crops relevant to needs of farming communities in Coastal region of Kenya

Core Functions

1. Research and Development:

The mandate of the Institute is to generate and disseminate technologies, innovations and Management practices (TIMPs) that enhance production, processing and value addition for nuts and oil crops, botanicals (pyrethrum) and natural fiber (cotton, sisal and silk) value chains. In addition, the institute undertakes adaptive research activities on all the crops and livestock that do well in the respective centres under the institute mandate.

2. Capacity Building:

The institute undertakes capacity building practices for the staff a well as the farmers on various aspects of farming practices along the value chain. The idea is to ensure proper dissemination of the developed technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPs) in a bid to increase production and productivity of quality crop and livestock products for increased incomes of farmers.

3. Policy Support:

The institute contributes to policy by participating in forums where policy guidelines are required to ensure the promotion of a particular value chain in areas such as production, infrastructure development (roads and aggregation centres), packaging and maximum weight of a product as well as marketing. This is meant to inform the national and the county governments on the need to provide appropriate policies that will enhance the value of a particular value chain /subsector.

4. Technology Transfer:

Expedite equitable access to research information, resources and technology and promote the application of the resource findings and technology in Industrial Crops Research Institute

Outreach and partnerships

The institute takes part in outreach and partnership activities that include the following among others

• Participation in field days and exhibitions organized by the institute and stakeholders
• Hosting of Expos in collaboration with stakeholders in both public and private sector
• Hosting of farmers’ open days
• Participation in the ASK Mombasa International show and other shows countrywide
• Participation in various conferences and workshops

Strategies

1. Develop technologies for revitalization of coconut and cashew nut sub-sectors in Kenya
2. Develop innovative technologies for enhanced productivity, competitiveness and commercialization of oil-seed crop value chains in Kenya.
3. Develop innovative technologies for silk farming in Kenya
4. Revitalize cotton and sisal value chains for increased production, income generation and wealth creation in Kenyan marginal counties.
5. Enhance productivity of pyrethrum for improved smallholder incomes and sustainable livelihoods in the Kenyan highlands
6. Develop novel approaches for natural resources management
7. Identify and promote socio-economic factors that enhance household incomes and improve livelihoods
8. Develop and promote innovative mechanisms for technology transfer and creation of linkages

ICRC MTWAPA

The Research Institute has made significant contributions to Kenya’s agricultural sector, including:

The development of the coconut sub-sector through identification of elite mother plants for use as sources of seednuts for propagation of seedlings as well as the introduction of hybrid coconut varieties in the country and the development of various TIMPs for promotion of coconut farming, processing and marketing along the value chain

ICRC Sericulture

Sericulture farming through the development of appropriate TIMPs for promoting and catalyzing the growth of sericulture industry in Kenya through technology generation, dissemination and ensuring adoption. With focus on Moriculture, Sericulture, Ericulture, Wild Silk & Biomaterial research. An In-situ mulberry gene bank that is also maintaining 8 silkworm strains with the state of the art silkworm rearing labs and a silk processing factory were established at the Sericulture centre in Thika. The rearing labs have bulk rearing equipment which are being used to conduct large scale silkworm rearing. These also act as a training site for stakeholders who are interested in going into commercial sericulture production.

ICRC Mwea

1. Release and planting of Bt Cotton on farm

Production of breeders seed of improved rice

ICRC Molo

Propagation and availing of pyrethrum splits to farmers

The Institute collaborates with various national and international organizations, including:

1. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD) and other sector ministries
2. County Governments
3. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS)
4. Pest control Products Board (PCPB)
5. Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS)
6. Community Based Organisations (CBOs).
7. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO)
8. Faith Based Organisations (FBOs)
9. Universities and higher learning institutions
10. Japanese International Cooperation Agency
11. International Rice Research Institute
12. International Coconut Community
13. Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT)

Future Direction include;

1. Enhanced Research: Focusing on cutting-edge research to address emerging agricultural challenges.
2. Digital Agriculture: Leveraging digital technologies for precision farming and data-driven decision-making.
3. Sustainable Practices: Promoting sustainable agricultural practices to ensure long-term productivity.
4. Youth and Women Empowerment: Engaging youth and women in agricultural research and development activities.

Achievements and Impact

The Research Institute has made significant contributions to Kenya’s agricultural sector, including:

1. The development of the coconut sub-sector through identification of elite mother plants for use as sources of seednuts for propagation of seedlings as well as the introduction of hybrid coconut varieties in the country and the development of various TIMPs for promotion of coconut farming, processing and marketing along the value chain.

 
East African tall coconut                               Hybrid-coconut                                  Dwarf coconut

2. Development of the cashew nut sub-sector through the development and subsequent release of 4 new cashew nut varieties that are high yielding (70 kg per tree per year) compared to the local varieties that yield less than 20 kg per tree per year and are also tolerant to the Powdery mildew disease that is very serious on cashew. At the same time the institute has come up with a protocol for screening cashew nut plants for powdery mildew disease, compiled a compendium for the major cashew nut pests and diseases as well as agronomic and post-harvest and processing technologies for cashew nuts.

3. Sericulture farming through the development of appropriate TIMPs for promoting and catalyzing the growth of sericulture industry in Kenya through technology generation, dissemination and ensuring adoption. With focus on Moriculture, Sericulture, Ericulture, Wild Silk & Biomaterial research. An In-situ mulberry gene bank that is also maintaining 8 silkworm strains with the state of the art silkworm rearing labs and a silk processing factory were established at the Sericulture centre in Thika. The rearing labs have bulk rearing equipment which are being used to conduct large scale silkworm rearing. These also act as a training site for stakeholders who are interested in going into commercial sericulture production.

Contacts

Institute Director,
Industrial Crops Research Institute,
P O Box 16-80109, Mtwapa, Kenya.
Tel +254 20-2024751; +254 20-2107534
E mail: director.icri@kalro.org; Website: www.kalro.org