{
  "id": 17588136,
  "title": "PS Mukhwana calls for increased maize production to reduce imports",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/ps-mukhwana-calls-for-increased-maize-production-to-reduce-imports",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T11:02:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/ps-mukhwana-calls-for-increased-maize-production-to-reduce-imports/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kenya's milling industry is facing mounting pressure as demand for maize continues to rise, with the government urging the nation to boost local production to reduce reliance on imports from neighboring countries. Dr Juma Mukhwana, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Industry, emphasized the importance of increasing maize production to ensure sufficient supplies of the staple food and sustain the milling sector. Kenya currently imports maize from Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia to supplement domestic production, but Mukhwana warned that the country must strengthen its own capacity to meet the growing demand.\n\nDuring the Kenya Millers Fortification Index (KMFI) 2026 Awards in Thika, Kiambu County, Mukhwana highlighted irrigation as a key opportunity to expand production, particularly in semi-arid regions such as Tana River, Isiolo, and Garissa counties. He stressed the need to convert arable land in these areas into maize-producing fields to support the growing population. Mukhwana also called upon the milling industry to promote maize-based products like ugali beyond the African market, asserting that Kenya has the potential to make these products more widely accepted internationally.\n\nPaloma Fernandes, CEO of the Cereal Millers Association (CMA), echoed the call for increased local production, emphasizing that millers have a responsibility to provide safe and nutritious food. She stressed that this responsibility should transcend mere compliance with government regulations and should be embedded in their core operations. Fernandes, representing over 60 millers, advocated for stronger sector monitoring to address the challenges posed by unregistered flour manufacturers, which hinder the enforcement of quality and fortification standards.\n\nChallenges facing the milling industry include high production costs, delayed subsidy payments totaling Sh3.2 billion, and port delays. CMA Board Chairman Beju Shah pointed out these issues as significant hurdles for millers. The KMFI Awards, organized by CMA in collaboration with TechnoServe through the Millers for Nutrition initiative, recognize companies that excel in food fortification, quality assurance, and manufacturing standards. Rizwan Yusufali, TechnoServe Global Programme Director for Millers for Nutrition, explained that the index fosters transparency and continuous improvement through independent verification, training, and peer benchmarking.\n\nThe awards have evolved from a single company in the first edition to 35 participants this year, demonstrating growing industry involvement. Food fortification, which involves adding essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, and B-complex vitamins to maize and wheat flour, plays a crucial role in addressing nutritional deficiencies, especially among children and mothers. This initiative underscores the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies through strategic interventions in the food supply chain.",
  "summary": "The country’s milling industry faces growing pressure from rising demand for maize, with the government calling for enhanced local production, to reduce reliance on imports from neighbouring countries. Principal Secretary (PS) for the State Department of Industry, Dr Juma Mukhwana, said the country must invest in expanding maize production to ensure adequate supplies of the […] The post PS…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}