Crop details

Rice (mchele/paddy)

Oryza sativa

Family: Poaceae

Quick stats

Family	Poaceae
Typical harvest	4.3 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	6
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	120
Main uses	Main food grain (mchele) for boiled rice, pilau, biryani and porridge; bran used for animal feed.
Pollination	self
Origin / where it grows	Rice (mchele/paddy) is grown in lowland irrigation schemes and wetlands in East Africa, with some upland rice in higher rainfall areas.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	22–32 °C
Rainfall	1000–1500 mm/yr
Altitude	0–2000 m
Best pH	5.5–7
Soil type	Heavy loam to clay soils that can hold water; Rice (mchele/paddy) does well in puddled soils that keep standing water.
Row spacing	20 cm
Plant spacing	20 cm
Planting depth	2 cm
Seed rate	30 kg/ha
Nursery days	25

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 120 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for main food grain (mchele) for boiled rice, pilau, biryani and porridge; bran used for animal feed..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by self. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Rice (mchele/paddy) is grown in lowland irrigation schemes and wetlands in East Africa, with some upland rice in higher rainfall areas. It is grouped under: Cereals & Pseudocereals.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 22 and 32 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 1000 to 1500 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2000 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 5.5 to 7. It does well in heavy loam to clay soils that can hold water; rice (mchele/paddy) does well in puddled soils that keep standing water.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 20 centimetres apart, and leave about 20 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 2 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 30 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Nursery period: If you raise seedlings in a nursery, keep them there for about 25 days before transplanting to the main field, when they are strong and healthy.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: For paddy Rice (mchele/paddy), raise seedlings in a nursery for about 3–4 weeks, then transplant 2–3 seedlings per hill into puddled fields with shallow standing water.

Transplanting: Transplant young, healthy seedlings at 3–4 weeks, do not bury the growing point, and keep water shallow for the first week to help them establish.

Irrigation: Keep a thin layer of water (about ankle deep) in the field from after establishment up to flowering. Drain slowly as the crop nears maturity to allow fields to dry for harvest.

Fertigation: If using controlled water inlets, split nitrogen into 2–3 applications: at planting/transplanting, tillering and panicle initiation.

Pest scouting: Check fields every week. Look for yellowing or burnt leaves (diseases), chewed stems (stem borers) and damaged panicles, as well as leafhoppers and planthoppers.

Pruning: No pruning required. Focus on early and regular weeding, especially in the first 40 days.

Harvest: Harvest Rice (mchele/paddy) when most panicles are golden, grains are hard and the straw has turned yellow. Overdrying in the field can cause shattering.

Postharvest: Cut and bundle, then dry paddy on clean tarpaulins. Thresh gently, dry grain to hard, biting-resistant stage and store in dry, insect-free bags or silos.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal (land preparation)	0	NPK or DAP 18-46-0 plus K source	80 kg/ha	N: 14, P₂O₅: 37, K₂O: 0	Incorporate uniformly into puddled soil before transplanting Rice (mchele/paddy).
2	Tillering topdress	20	Urea 46% N or CAN 26% N	60 kg/ha	N: 28, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply when plants are well established and tillering, with shallow standing water.
3	Panicle initiation topdress	40	Urea 46% N	40 kg/ha	N: 18, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply just before panicles form inside the stem, if season and water allow.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	30	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	20	kg/ha
N	Tillering	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Tillering	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Tillering	10	kg/ha
N	Panicle_initiation	20	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Panicle_initiation	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Panicle_initiation	10	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Improved lowland rice – medium duration	KE	120	Suitable for irrigation schemes, good grain quality and yield.
Improved lowland rice – early	TZ	110	Early-maturing Rice (mchele/paddy) for areas with shorter seasons.
Local paddy rice	KE	130	Traditional taste and aroma, lower yield than improved varieties.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	DAP 18-46-0 or NPK with P	80	Supplies phosphorus and starter nitrogen for Rice (mchele/paddy).
Topdress (tillering)	Urea 46% N or CAN 26% N	60	Boosts tiller formation and early canopy growth.
Topdress (panicle initiation)	Urea 46% N	40	Improves panicle size and grain number when water is adequate.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Rice stem borers	pest	Dead hearts in young plants, white heads at grain filling where panicles are empty.	Destroy stubble after harvest, avoid continuous Rice (mchele/paddy) on the same field, and use recommended controls when...
Rice blast	disease	Diamond-shaped spots on leaves, neck rot at the base of the panicle, broken or empty heads.	Use blast-tolerant varieties, avoid very high nitrogen and maintain good field drainage at critical stages.
Bacterial leaf blight	disease	Yellow, water-soaked streaks on leaves that turn brown and dry from the tip backwards.	Plant resistant Rice (mchele/paddy) varieties, avoid using infected seed and keep field hygiene.
Leafhoppers and planthoppers	pest	Yellowing and drying (“hopper burn”) patches, insects on stems and lower leaves.	Avoid overuse of insecticides that kill natural enemies; use selective products only when numbers are high.
Rice yellow mottle virus	disease	Yellow mottling, stunting and poor panicle formation.	Use tolerant varieties, clean seed and good water and weed management.
Weeds (especially sedges and grasses)	pest	Competition for nutrients and light; fields look patchy and uneven.	Early hand weeding or rotary weeding, and good water management to suppress weeds.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Smallholder lowland (rainfed, low input)	2	1	3	Local varieties, limited fertilizer and simple weed control.
Smallholder irrigated (improved management)	4.5	3	6	Improved Rice (mchele/paddy) varieties with recommended fertilizer and timely water management.
Well-managed irrigated schemes	6.5	5	8	Good varieties, proper leveling, water control, fertilizer and strong weed/pest control.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	Irrigated Rice (mchele/paddy) schemes – 1st season	Jul–Aug	Dec–Jan
KE	Irrigated Rice (mchele/paddy) schemes – 2nd season	Feb–Mar	Jun–Jul
TZ	Lowland valleys and irrigation schemes	Dec–Jan	May–Jun

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Dry upland, rocky areas	Low
KE	Irrigation and wetland Rice (mchele/paddy) zones (e.g. central and coastal schemes)	High
TZ	River valleys and irrigation schemes	High
UG	Wetland and lowland Rice (mchele/paddy) areas	High