By Nicholas Waitathu
Kenya is enhancing support to local farmers to increase wheat production in efforts aimed at reducing imports by about 20% by the year 2027.
Currently, Kenya imports about 92% of wheat that is consumed in the country, with local production accounting for the remaining 8%.
In an interview after meeting farmers in Narok, Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), Director General, Bruno Linyiru said the Government is pursuing bold strategies aimed at supporting farmers to increase production in order to cut imports.
“The country has the potential to produce more wheat. Government intention is guarantee farmers ore support inform of far inputs and extension services so that they can produce more,” said Dr. Linyiru.
He says the plan involves expanding the acrea under wheat as well as enhancing access to high yielding wheat varieties.
“The Government under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) is fully addressing challenges facing the wheat industry, for example, through the subsidized fertilizer program, enforcement of minimum guaranteed prices, e-Extension services, soil testing and improved seed varieties,” said Dr. Linyiru.
He says the government is also stepping up interaction with value chain players to identify and address challenges they face.
AFA Food Crops Director Calistus Kundu, says Kenya’s annual wheat production was 135,000 metric tones in 2023 against an annual consumption of 2.2 million metric tones. The deficit is filled through imports from Russia, Ukraine and other European countries.
Kundu says the government targets to expand wheat farming to the counties of Laikipia, Samburu and Marsabit.
“These new areas are suitable for wheat production and equally can accommodate current varieties –Farasi, kangaroo and Sungura grown in traditional regions. These interventions are over and above deepening wheat productivity in traditional regions of Narok, Timau and Mau,” he said.