KALRO Kenya: Branches, Products & Research (2025)
- BeyondForest
- Nov 8
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 12
1.)About KALRO
3.)KALRO Research Areas: Crops, Livestock, Soils & Biotechnology
5.)How KALRO Supports Innovation & Climate-Smart Agriculture
6.)KALRO Varieties: Seeds, Breeds & Certified Technologies
7.)KALRO Contacts: Website, Branches & Helplines
High temperatures, drought, and pest attacks increase contamination in the field. Poor post harvest practices like poor drying, bad storage, and careless handling also increase contamination of produce especially by aflatoxin.To ensure safety of produce from maize, sorghum and groundnuts to fetch higher markets, apply aflasafe to your fields at the correct time to ensure safety of your produce for your health and for good economic returns. -KALRO
The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) is Kenya’s premier government institution responsible for agricultural and livestock research. Established under the KALRO Act of 2013, its mandate is to streamline, coordinate and strengthen research across crops, livestock, and natural resources to support Kenya’s food security and economic growth. KALRO develops improved crop varieties, high-yield livestock breeds, climate-smart innovations, and modern farming technologies tailored to Kenya’s diverse ecological zones.
Did You Know KALRO conserves over 50,000 genetic materials in its national seed bank safeguarding Kenya’s agricultural future.
Learn More About Posho Mill Prices In Kenya Click Here >>>>
Aflasafe KE01 is natural biocontrol product that drastically reduces aflatoxin contamination in maize, sorghum, and groundnuts by introducing non-toxigenic fungi to outcompete toxic ones in the field. It provides farmers with a safe and cost-effective way to produce aflatoxin-free crops, improving food security and opening up trade-KALRO
KALRO is the engine behind Kenya’s agricultural innovation—ensuring farmers access reliable information, modern technologies, and resilient varieties that can withstand drought, pests, and emerging climate challenges.
The organization plays a central role in reducing production costs, improving farmer productivity, and supporting agribusiness enterprises through certified seeds, disease-free planting materials, soil testing, feeds research, and field demonstrations. KALRO also bridges the gap between researchers and farmers by transferring knowledge through training, extension materials, and partnerships with counties and private sector players.
Key Pasture Species Farmers Were Trained On by KALRO
These grasses are drought-tolerant, fast-growing, and high in biomass — perfect for pastoral and ASAL regions:
1. Horsetail (Chloris roxburghiana)
Highly drought tolerant
Good for grazing livestock
Excellent for stabilizing soils in degraded rangelands
2. Cenchrus ciliaris – TVT3
A superior buffel grass variety
High biomass, fast regrowth
Performs very well in drylands
3. Cenchrus ciliaris – MGD1
Another elite buffel grass variety
Even better drought tolerance
Good for hay production
4. Enteropogon macrostachyus (ENMA)
Very resilient to drought
Great for restoring severely degraded areas
Livestock-friendly
5. Eragrostis superba (ERASU)
Among Kenya’s best native grasses
High nutritional value
Regrows fast after grazing and rains
KALRO Research Centers Across Kenya
Through selective breeding, KALRO has improved: Boran cattle, Galla goats, Red Maasai sheep and Improved kienyeji chicken. These breeds survive drought, diseases, and extreme heat.
KALRO operates 16 institutes and over 50 research centres & sub-centres spread across Kenya’s diverse agro-ecological zones. These centres allow KALRO to address region-specific challenges (e.g., arid zones, highlands, industrial crop belts) and to deploy tailored solutions in crop, livestock, natural resources, and biotechnology research.
Institute / Centre | Location | Key Focus & Notes |
Industrial Crops Research Institute (ICRI) – Mtwapa, Kilifi County | Coastal Kenya | Focuses on industrial crops: coconut, cashewnuts, sisal, cotton, palm oil, silk (sericulture) etc |
Genetic Resources Research Institute (GeRRI) – Muguga/Kikuyu | Central Kenya | Conserves >50,000 accessions of crop & livestock genetic resources for food security & resilience. |
Food Crops Research Institute (FCRI) – Multiple centres (Kitale, Njoro, Kabete, Alupe, etc) | Rift & other regions | Research on staples (maize, beans), agronomy, pest/disease control. |
Horticulture Research Institute (HRI) – Thika + centres Tigoni, Kibos | Central/Western Kenya | Research on fruits, vegetables, flowers, post-harvest handling. |
Centre at Kiboko (station) | Makueni County (arid/semi-arid) | Upgraded breeding and seed-systems infrastructure for drought-tolerant crops. |
KALRO Research Areas: Crops, Livestock, Soils & Biotechnology
KALRO’s research spans specialized institutes that address Kenya’s major agricultural value chains. Crop research covers cereals, pulses, roots, tubers, fruits, vegetables, rice, cotton, cashew, coconut, pyrethrum, and dryland crops such as beans, cowpea, green gram, and cassava. Livestock research is handled through dairy, beef, sheep, goats, poultry, and pig institutes that focus on genetics, nutrition, health, and productivity.
KALRO–Kiboko in Makueni is internationally recognized for testing crop performance under extreme drought and high temperatures.It is used by global partners like CIMMYT, ICRISAT, and FAO.
The Apiculture Institute advances honey production, while the Mechanization Institute develops appropriate farming technologies. Soil fertility, conservation, and climate adaptation are supported across centers. Biotechnology drives tissue culture, disease-free planting materials, rapid breeding, and diagnostics, strengthening Kenya’s food security and resilience.
Institute | Focus | Centre(s) |
Food Crop Research Institute | Cereals, pulses, roots and tubers | Muguga, Embu, Kisii, Alupe, Njoro, Kabete |
Dairy Research Institute | Dairy | Ojoro Orok, Msabaha |
Horticulture Research Institute | Fruits and vegetables | Kibos, Matuga, Tigoni |
Industrial Crop Research Institute | Rice, cotton, cashew, coconut, pyrethrum | Mwea, Molo |
Agricultural Mechanization Research Institute | Dryland crops like beans, cowpea, green gram, cassava | Katumani |
Apiculture Research Institute | Honey | Perkera |
Beef Research Institute | Beef | Lanet, Mariakani, Transmara |
Non-Ruminant Research Institute | Poultry and pigs | Kakamega |
Sheep and Goats Research Institute | Sheep and goats | Buchuma |
Tea Research Institute | Tea | Kangaita |
Coffee Research Institute | Coffee | Ruiru |
KALRO has developed detailed Land Suitability Maps to guide farmers on the best areas to grow major food crops based on soil characteristics, climate, rainfall, altitude, and ecological zones. These maps help farmers make informed decisions that reduce losses and increase productivity.
1. Maize
Shows optimal maize-growing zones in Kenya, with high suitability in western highlands, central highlands, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, parts of Rift Valley, and areas with adequate rainfall and fertile soils.
2. Sorghum
The map highlights ideal sorghum zones in semi-arid and arid regions, mainly Eastern Kenya (Kitui, Makueni, Tharaka Nithi), Coastal lowlands, and parts of western lowlands. Sorghum thrives where maize fails.
3. Sweet Potato
High suitability appears in Western Kenya, Nyanza, Coast, and pockets of central lowlands. These areas have warm conditions and soils favorable for tuber development.
4. Cassava
Cassava grows best along the Coast, Western Kenya, Nyanza, and parts of Eastern Kenya — regions that support drought-tolerant crops with good root development.
5. Beans
Suitable bean-growing zones include Central Kenya, Rift Valley highlands, Western highlands, and areas with cooler temperatures and moderate rainfall.
6. Irish Potato (Potatoes)
High suitability zones include the cold highlands Nyandarua, Meru, Mt. Elgon, Nakuru highlands, Bomet, Kericho areas known for commercial potato farming.
KALRO offers a wide range of services designed to improve farmer productivity and strengthen agribusiness value chains. These include provision of certified seeds, disease-free planting materials, improved livestock genetics, and high-quality fodder varieties. Farmers also access soil testing, fertility mapping, and agronomic recommendations tailored to their location. KALRO provides training, field demonstrations, and extension materials to support modern farming practices. Agribusinesses benefit from market research, value-chain studies, post-harvest technologies, and mechanization innovations. Through biotechnology labs, KALRO supplies tissue-culture seedlings, diagnostics, and rapid breeding services. These services help reduce production costs, boost yields, and support climate-smart, profitable agriculture.
KALRO drives innovation and climate-smart agriculture by developing technologies that help farmers adapt to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and degraded soils. Through advanced breeding programs, KALRO releases drought-tolerant crop varieties, improved pasture species, and resilient livestock breeds suited for arid and semi-arid lands.
The organization promotes conservation agriculture, water-efficient irrigation systems, and soil fertility management practices that restore degraded land. Its research centers test climate-adapted seeds, fodder, and farming equipment before transferring them to farmers through demonstrations and training.
KALRO develops and releases certified crop varieties, improved livestock breeds, and proven technologies tailored to Kenya’s diverse agro-ecological zones. Its seed portfolio includes drought-tolerant maize, beans, sorghum, green grams, potatoes, rice, and high-yield horticultural varieties. KALRO also produces elite pasture seeds such as Cenchrus ciliaris, Eragrostis superba, and Chloris roxburghiana for ASAL regions. In livestock, KALRO advances improved dairy, beef, poultry, pig, and small-ruminant genetics. The organisation further provides tissue-culture materials, disease-free planting stocks, diagnostic tools, soil-fertility maps, mechanization technologies, and climate-smart innovations
Need Accurate Data for Your Business?
We collect, analyze, and deliver insights that help you make smarter decisions.
KALRO Contacts: Website, Branches & Helplines
Website: https://www.kalro.org
Contact Page: https://www.kalro.org/contacts
Address: Kaptagat Road, Loresho, Nairobi, Kenya
Postal: P.O. Box 57811-00200, Nairobi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KALROKenya
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/KALROKenya
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KALROKenya
What is KALRO and what does it do?
KALRO is Kenya’s national agricultural research body mandated to develop improved crop varieties, livestock breeds, soil technologies, and climate-smart innovations that support farmers and agribusinesses.
How can I contact KALRO headquarters?
You can reach KALRO through their official website: https://www.kalro.org , or via their general email info@kalro.org . Their main address is Kaptagat Road, Loresho, Nairobi.
Does KALRO have branches across Kenya?
Yes. KALRO operates multiple research centres including Muguga, Njoro, Katumani, Mwea, Tigoni, Kibos, Ojoro Orok, Msabaha, Lanet, and many others through 11 major institutes.
Where can I find official KALRO institute links?
Each institute has its own page on the KALRO website. Examples include:
Food Crops Research Institute: https://www.kalro.org/institutes/food-crops-research-institute/ , Dairy Research Institute: https://www.kalro.org/institutes/dairy-research-institute/ and more on the KALRO website.
How do farmers access KALRO seeds and technologies?
Farmers can visit nearby research centers or check the KALRO website for available certified seeds, tissue culture materials, planting guides, and pasture varieties.
Does KALRO offer training to farmers?
Yes. KALRO regularly provides farmer training, field demonstrations, workshops, and extension materials on crops, livestock, soils, and climate-smart methods.
How can agribusinesses collaborate with KALRO?
Businesses can reach out through KALRO’s official contact form or institute pages to explore partnerships in research, trials, seed multiplication, technology uptake, and value-chain studies.
How do I know which KALRO centre is closest to me?
The KALRO website lists all institutes and research centres with their locations. Farmers can browse by region or crop/livestock focus to find the nearest branch.
Does KALRO have social media accounts?
Yes. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KALROKenya, Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/KALROKenya and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KALROKenya
Where can I get KALRO publications and research reports?
Publications, research papers, brochures, and production guides are available on the official website under the “Publications” or institute-specific pages.
