Govt orders 25 million bags of maize imports as harvests fall
Kenya consumes approximately 75 million bags of maize annually, but reduced harvests in several food-producing regions are expected to leave a deficit of nearly 25 million bags.
Kenyans are set to benefit from 25 million 90-kilogramme bags of imported maize as the government seeks to meet the expected demand and prevent a potential food shortage resulting from reduced production in key maize-growing areas. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed that arrangements for the imports were already in motion, promising Kenyans that the government had protocols in place to maintain sufficient food supplies even amid the country's production challenges.
Kenya consumes around 75 million bags of maize annually, but the shortfall is anticipated to reach nearly 25 million bags due to drought and other climate-related issues affecting agricultural production. The government aims to stabilize supplies and shield consumers from possible price hikes through the imports, which will provide an immediate response to the projected shortage.
However, Kagwe emphasized that the government is also pursuing long-term strategies to boost domestic food production and bolster the country's resilience to climate shocks.
Key measures include expanding irrigation projects, such as the Galana-Kulalu scheme, which the administration expects to increase agricultural productivity and lessen Kenya's dependence on rain-fed farming. The government will also collaborate with the National Treasury to tackle taxation and bureaucratic hurdles that impact farmers and agribusinesses, aiming to make agriculture more competitive and profitable.
The focus is on boosting food production and transforming agriculture into a commercially viable sector capable of generating employment and wealth.
During the Fifth Joint Consultative Meeting of County Executive Committee Members, Kagwe unveiled consultations for the AgriConnect Compact Programme, a new initiative designed to engage young people in modernizing agriculture. Projected to generate thousands of jobs along agricultural value chains, AgriConnect will focus on boosting agricultural productivity, promoting value addition, and creating sustainable employment through agribusiness.
The program will be based on three main pillars: increasing agricultural productivity, promoting value addition, and creating sustainable employment via agribusiness.
Kagwe stressed the need to change the perception of agriculture among the youth, highlighting that it can be a modern sector generating wealth, attracting investment, and providing decent employment, especially for young people. The government will also promote the digitization of agriculture and the adoption of artificial intelligence and other modern technologies to enhance productivity, improve market access, and make farming more appealing to the younger generation.
The consultative meeting, attended by representatives from both national and county governments, as well as the World Bank Group, reviewed progress on existing agricultural programs and developed a roadmap for AgriConnect, underscoring the importance of cooperation between the national and county governments in addressing food insecurity, enhancing agricultural productivity, and providing opportunities for young people.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
