Kenya to start national seed subsidy program in 2026/2027
The Kenyan government plans to widen farm support by helping smallholder farmers access certified seeds at lower costs.
KENYA – Kenya will roll out a national seed subsidy program in the 2026/2027 financial year as the government pushes to raise farm output and cut production costs for farmers.
President William Ruto announced the plan on May 17, according to local media reports. The move adds to Kenya’s current farm support efforts, which have mainly focused on fertilizer subsidies.
Agriculture remains one of Kenya’s biggest economic sectors. The sector contributes about 22% of the country’s gross domestic product and supports nearly 46% of the working population. Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya relies on farm input subsidies to support food production and farmer incomes.
The new program aims to help farmers gain better access to certified seeds, an area that still faces major supply and cost problems. Many smallholder farmers continue to buy seeds from informal sellers because certified products remain costly or hard to find.
A 2025 report from the United States Department of Agriculture said the high price of quality seeds keeps many small-scale farmers out of the formal seed market.
The report stated that “the proliferation of poor-quality seeds on the market further exacerbates the problem, leading to low yields and discouraging investment in improved varieties.”
The government now wants to widen support beyond fertilizers and strengthen the country’s formal seed market. Analysts expect the plan to increase the use of certified seeds and improve seed distribution across farming regions.
Kenya’s seed market covers a wide range of crops. According to the USDA report, field crops such as maize, potato, beans, sorghum, cotton, cowpea, and horticultural seeds account for almost 80% of annual seed sales.
The report also estimated Kenya’s seed demand at more than 216,000 units in 2025. However, informal suppliers still meet about 70% of that demand. This trend shows the continued struggle many farmers face when trying to access certified planting materials.
The government has not yet shared details on how the subsidy program will work or which crops it will cover first. Still, the announcement signals a wider shift in Kenya’s farm support plans as authorities look for ways to improve yields, lower production costs, and strengthen food security.
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