**1. Introduction**

Cultivated rice is grouped in to the genus *Oryza* taxonomically. The genus *Oryza* (*O*.) contains 23 species of which two are cultivated while the rest are wild [1]. The two cultivated species, are *Oryza glaberrima*, commonly referred to as African rice, and *Oryza sativa* L*.*, commonly referred to as Asian rice [2]. *O. glaberrima* is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa and its domestication is believed to have been from *Oryza barthii* (which used to be referred to as *Oryza brevilugata*). On the other hand, *O. sativa* was domesticated independently probably in China [3]. Cultivated rice is not limited to the two *Oryza* species, other inter-specifics for example the New Rice for Africa marketed as NERICA'S that arose due to crossing of *O. sativa,* and *O. glaberrima* are also cultivated [2].

Rice is an essential food crop that provides for most of world's population. It is also the second most consumed among cereal crops that include maize, wheat, barley, sorghum and millet. Rice is a major cereal crop with high economic and nutritional importance [4, 5]. Worldwide the leading producers of rice are Indonesia, India and China who together account for 50% world production [6]. Africa accounts for only 3% of the world's total production, with biggest producing countries being found in West Africa and they include Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Mali. Mozambique and Malawi are the leading producers in Southern Africa. Madagascar and Egypt are also other substantial producers. In East Africa Tanzania ranks top in production followed by Kenya then Uganda [6].

In Kenya rice is mainly consumed as food with byproducts having other roles, for example rice hull is used as animal feeds, rice straw is also used as animal feed and substrate for growing mushrooms, while rice husks are used as cooking fuel [7]. In Kenya rice consumption has increased tremendously at an annual rate of 12% in comparison to wheat and maize that have increased at about 4% and 1% respectively. This is credited to changes in eating habits mostly among people living in urban centers [8]. Therefore, demand for rice is expected to increase further. In 2019 the annual rice consumption in Kenya was approximated to be 800,000 metric tons compared 130,000 metric tons produced the same year (**Figure 1**), the deficit was met through imports [6]. Current rice imports are estimated to be about \$87.5 million consequently stretching other parts of the economy [6].

Irrigated rice production land potential is about 540,000 ha while the production land potential for rain-fed ecology is 1.0 million ha [7, 9] currently area under production is estimated to be 30,000 ha. This indicates that if rain fed ecology potential is fully explored it will contribute to towards bridging production and consumption gap. Rice yield for irrigated rice is approximated at 4–6 t ha−1 while for rain fed is 1 t ha−1 which are below optimal production capability of about 10 t ha −1 and 7 t ha −1 respectively [7].

In Kenya like in many other sub-Sahara Africa counties rainfed rice farming has not been given priority [10]. With a potential of over 1 million ha about only 250, 000 ha are under rainfed rice crop [11]. Increasing Rain fed rice production is likely to increase the national rice production thus decreasing the rice import bill. This

*Rice production, imports and consumption in Kenya between 2015 and 2019.*

chapter aims at reviewing rainfed rice farming in Kenya by highlighting ecological conditions, ecological systems, the constraints faced by rainfed rice farming and discussing their potential solutions which if adopted can increase rice production in Kenya.
