**5.2 Weeds**

Weeds compete for vital nutrients with rice plants. Weeds serve as alternative hosts for diseases, pests and rodents. Weeds have a cumulative effect of suppressing rice plants growth thus reducing yield. Common weeds in Kenya include; *Echinochloe colona* and *Echinochloe crus-galli* of family Poacea, *Ishaem rogusum*, *Leptochlea chinesis*, *Cyperus deformis*, *Fimbristylis miliacea*, false finger millet and

striga. Weeds also reduces harvests quality and makes farmers to utilize more resources in terms of time and money to control weeds which reduces returns [24].

#### **5.3 Diseases and pests**

Diseases are also a major constraint to a Kenyan rainfed farmer. Common diseases include; Blast caused by *Pyricularia oryza*, Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV), Brown Spot (*Helminthosporium oryza*) Sheath rot caused by *Sarocladium sp*., Sheath blight caused by *Thanetophorus cucumeris*, Bacterial blight caused by *Xanthomonas oryzae* pv. oryzae, Glume discoloration caused by *Sarocladium sp*. and *Curvularia sp*., Leaf scald caused by *Rhyncosporium oryzae.* Pests also have a major effect on rice yield, major pests that attacks rice include Stem Borers, Leaf Miners and Root Cutting Insects. Others are Rice hispa, termites, Rice root aphid, seed corn maggot, cut worm, Rice water weevil, Rice leaf beetle, and rice green caterpillars. Birds e.g., quelea and rodents such as mice and rats also cause a substantial field loses [25].

#### **5.4 Land ownership**

Land ownership system has led to land fragmentation in potential areas as population increases. This has made it difficult to utilize mechanization in rice farming processes leading to reliance on manual labor which rises production costs narrowing profits margins for farmers. Furthermore, women who are key players in rice production are traditionally not allowed to own land though Kenyan laws provide for women land ownership [26].

#### **5.5 Unfavorable trans-border trade practices and cheap imports**

There is a lot of informal trade with Tanzania and Uganda. There is uncertified rice seeds movement which presents challenges to the rice sub-sector development. With no harmonized tariffs on germplasm trade between the East African community neighbors controlling this type of trade has been a challenge. There has also been illegal importation of cheaper milled rice from other countries which leads to low prices for the Kenyan farmer hence hurting profits.

#### **5.6 High cost of machineries and inputs**

The cost of acquiring machineries such as tractors and farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides is so high. This has been a disincentive to farmers on use of machineries and farm inputs. This has driven production cost high reducing farmers profits margins.

#### **5.7 Poor infrastructure**

In Rainfed rice systems poor infrastructure has been a major constraint to farmers. Rice mills are unevenly distributed forcing farmers to rely on traditional milling methods which are labor intensive, and lead to low quality and low percentage of milled rice recovery from paddy rice. Poorly developed roads, drainage, communication and viable public-private sector partnerships contribute to low rice productivity. More improvement in rice milling value chain could improve rice production. A study done in Rwanda by [27] showed that the system of processing rice in small hullers did not to contribute to increasing domestic supply. This was attributed to hulled rice of poor quality that was demonstrated by 30% decrease in prices of domestic rice compared to imported rice. Other aspects in which millers

#### *Rainfed Rice Farming Production Constrains and Prospects, the Kenyan Situation DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98389*

affects rice production is in relation to their location. Rice mills located far from farms implies high cost of transportation and this drives up production costs. The high milling costs implies farmers being unable to recover their production costs since cost of transporting paddy rice which is bulky than rice that has been milled by about 40% is expensive [28].
