Historical Background
Kenya Agricultural Research center (KARI) Kitale started in 1930 as an Agricultural.
National Agricultural research station (NARS) was established in 1987 after the amalgamation of Agricultural Experimentation Station-Top-sation and Grassland research centre (main farm). [more]

KARI Kitale vision and Mission

Vision
The vision of KARI Kitale is to be a centre of excellence in maize and pasture/fodder research for the medium and high potential agro-ecological zones of Kenya and adaptive research in the mandated districts of the North Rift Valley thereby contributing to an improved quality of life the target farmers.

Mission
The mission of KARI Kitale is to develop, evaluate, disseminate and catalyse the adoption of appropriate maize and pasture/fodder technologies and carry out adaptive research on soil, crop and livestock technologies in partnership with various stakeholders.

Objective
• To effectively and efficiently contribute to the realization of KARI’s vision and mission.

Mandate Region
KARI Kitale centre mandate is to promote agricultural development in a total of five counties (Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, West Pokot and Keiyo Marakwet) 14 districts in North Rift Valley region, namely, Eldoret East, Eldoret West, Wareng, Nandi East, Nandi North, Nandi South, Kwanza, Trans Nzoia East, Trans Nzoia West, West Pokot, Pokot Central and Pokot North.

The total area covered is about 1.8 million hectares, out of which 1.3 million hectares is arable. The human population in the mandate region totals 2.7 million people in over half a million households. The major Agro-ecological zones (AEZs) include Lower Highlands (LH1 to LH3), Lower Midlands (LM1 to LM5) and Upper Midlands (UM4, UM4-5). LH3, LM5, UM4, UM4-5 make up 76% of the agricultural land in the mandate region.  In addition, it has National mandate for maize and pasture improvement for medium and high altitude areas of Kenya.