Kenya : Maize, rice and wheat imports drop following bumper harvest
Kenya cut grain imports by 22.3% in 2024, bringing in 2.65m tonnes versus 3.41m in 2023, thanks to bumper local harvests. Maize imports plunged 56%, rice fell 301,242 tonnes, and wheat dropped 180,498 tonnes. Strong yields boosted supply but lowered farm-gate maize prices, reducing farmers’ earnings despite improved self-sufficiency.
Kenya’s importation of key food staples declined sharply in 2024, with traders bringing in far less maize, rice, and wheat as bumper harvests in local farms eased dependence on overseas markets.
Data from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) indicates that overall imports of the three grains dropped to 2.65 million tonnes last year compared to 3.41 million tonnes in 2023.
This cutback of 756,208 tonnes represents a 22.3 per cent fall, demonstrating the impact of favourable weather, higher yields, and state efforts to promote local supply.
Rice saw the biggest reduction, 301,242 tonnes; maize imports fell by 274,468 tonnes, while wheat shipments shrank by 180,498 tonnes.
In 2024, traders sourced 214,067 tonnes of maize – equivalent to about 2.4 million 90-kilogramme bags.
This was a steep decline of 56.18 per cent from the 488,535 tonnes brought in the previous year, with the North Rift and other major growing counties supplying the market with plentiful harvests.
“This reduction is primarily due to increased domestic production in 2023, driven by favourable weather conditions, which reduced the country’s reliance on imported maize,” AFA said.
Maize remains the backbone of Kenya’s diet and is cultivated widely in Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Narok, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia, Nakuru, Bungoma, Kakamega, and Nandi.
Different varieties thrive across regions depending on rainfall and altitude.
A strong harvest in 2023 meant imports were scaled back in 2024, but farmers faced the downside of declining earnings.
The average price at the farm gate dropped to Sh3,443.22 per 90-kilogramme bag in 2024, compared to Sh4,094.44 in 2023.
Government pricing through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) was lowered to Sh3,500 per bag, down from Sh4,000 the year before.
As a result, the total value of maize produced locally slipped from Sh199 billion in 2023 to Sh154.03 billion in 2024.
“While this pricing adjustment was intended to stabilise the market, it coincided with increased supply and declining market prices in 2023. Consequently, the total value of domestically produced maize fell from Sh199 billion in 2023 to Sh154.03 billion in 2024,” AFA explained.
The decline was not limited to maize. Rice imports fell from 930,930 tonnes in 2023 to 629,688 tonnes in 2024, reflecting a major shift toward self-sufficiency.
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Source : East leigh Voice
