Kenya produces only 8% of annual wheat demand, heavily reliant on imports: AFA report
KENYA – Kenya produces only 8% of its annual wheat demand, forcing the country to rely on imports for 92% of its consumption, the Agricultural Food Authority (AFA) has revealed.
According to a report released on March 12, AFA noted that despite government efforts to boost local wheat production, demand has surged significantly, necessitating continued imports from Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union.
The report detailed that Kenya’s annual wheat production stood at 135,000 metric tonnes (MT) in 2023, against a national consumption of 2.2 million MT. Over the past five years, consumption has steadily increased, while domestic production has struggled to keep up.
“This scenario has been attributed to increasing cost of production with disproportionate increase in farm-gate prices, low productivity, land subdivisions, and short land leases that cannot support modern technologies such as Conservation Agriculture,” the report stated.
Kenya’s primary wheat-producing regions include Upper Narok and Timau 2. However, the report highlighted that between July 2024 and February 2025, the country imported 15 million bags of wheat compared to only 321,596 bags sourced from local farmers and marketing agents.
The announcement comes amid protests by wheat farmers in Narok County, who decried market manipulation by elite players allegedly controlling the supply chain.
Farmers claim their harvests have been left in granaries with no buyers, straining their ability to make financial gains. However, Mutahi Kagwe, the Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary, addressed the issue, assuring farmers that 321,000 bags of their wheat harvests stuck in granaries would be cleared promptly.
Kagwe also warned individuals seeking to exploit government interventions for personal gain, stating that any attempts to manipulate the market will be met with legal action.
In addition, the government has stepped up, rolling out various measures to support wheat farmers. The interventions include subsidized fertilizer programs, enforcement of minimum guaranteed prices, e-Extension services, soil testing, and the introduction of improved seed varieties to enhance productivity.
The country has also implemented the Wheat Purchase Scheme (WPS), which mandates millers to buy all locally grown wheat at predetermined prices while also granting them import quotas on a pro-rata basis. Under this scheme, millers are required to pay a 10% duty on wheat imports to protect local farmers.
To bridge the production gap, the government aims to reduce wheat imports and increase domestic production from the current 8% to above 40% of the total demand. The strategy includes increased investment in mechanized farming, improving access to quality seeds, and expanding financial incentives for farmers.
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