The international training course “Rice Production Technologies for Food Security and Sustainability of African Countries 2026 Batch 3,” organized by the Office of Extension and Training Kampaengsaen, Kasetsart University, in collaboration with JICA and TICA, continues to progress steadily.

 

Recently, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanet Ma-lampong from the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture at Kampaeng Saen, delivered a session on “Rice Breeding.” Trainees explored everything from setting breeding objectives and using the pedigree method to understanding hybrid rice and the principles of heterosis.

 

During the Recap & Reflection session, Mr. Joseph Maina, a representative from Kenya, highlighted key takeaways—including breeding goals, the pedigree method, hybrid rice, and heterosis—aimed at boosting yield potential, while connecting this knowledge to Kenya’s local context.

 

This exchange reflected shared challenges faced by both Thailand and Kenya, such as climate change, fungal plant diseases, and the adoption of hybrid rice varieties in actual field conditions. It also compared key research institutions, noting that Thailand has the Rice Department, whereas Kenya has KALRO (Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization).