NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya produces only 8% of its annual wheat demand, forcing the country to rely on imports for the remaining 92%, according to a new report by the Agricultural Food Authority (AFA).
The report, released Tuesday, highlights Kenya’s widening wheat deficit, with local production standing at just 135,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2023 against a national consumption of 2.2 million MT.
This growing shortfall has led to increased wheat imports from key suppliers such as Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union.
Despite government efforts to boost local production, the report cites rising production costs, low farm-gate prices, land fragmentation, and short-term land leases as major obstacles preventing farmers from adopting modern technologies like Conservation Agriculture.
Struggling Farmers and Market Manipulation Claims
Kenya’s wheat is primarily grown in Upper Narok and Timau, but farmers in these regions are facing tough market conditions.
In the last eight months, Kenya imported 15 million bags of wheat, while local farmers and marketing agents contributed only 321,596 bags—a stark contrast that has sparked discontent among wheat producers.
Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe recently assured farmers that the government is taking steps to address their grievances.
His statement followed protests in Narok County, where farmers accused powerful players in the sector of manipulating the supply chain to favor well-connected individuals.
Some claimed their harvested wheat had been stuck in granaries for months with no buyers in sight.
Government’s Response and Reform Plans
In response, the government has reinforced the Wheat Purchase Scheme (WPS), which mandates millers to buy all locally grown wheat at set prices before being allowed to import.
Under this system, millers also pay a 10% duty on imports, with import quotas allocated on a pro-rata basis.
Additionally, the government is rolling out measures to reduce wheat imports and raise local production to 40% of millers’ demand.
These initiatives include subsidized fertilizer programs, minimum guaranteed prices, e-Extension services, soil testing, and improved seed varieties.
While the government aims to make Kenya more self-sufficient in wheat production, farmers say urgent intervention is needed to break market bottlenecks and ensure they reap the benefits of their harvests.
