Gov't moves to buy entire rice stock to support Mwea farmers

In a statement, Agriculture and Food Authority Director General Bruno Linyiru explained that the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) would mop up over 5,000 metric tonnes of locally grown rice, valued at approximately Ksh.500 million and pay farmers within a month after delivery. 

The decision followed farmers' appeal to the government to temporarily halt rice importation to allow for the sale of existing local stock. 

To address this, Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe directed AFA to tour the region and find a solution. AFA's Director General pointed out that Kenya can only produce 191,000 metric tonnes of rice in the 2024/25, which could last two months. Linyiru added that Kenya imports rice to supplement the local supply. 

Following the tour, AFA, alongside other stakeholders, agreed to reduce rice imports by 50 per cent by expanding the irrigation schemes and introducing high-yield rice varieties to increase local food production.

Farmers also expressed concerns over unethical practices by some retailers packaging imported rice as local brands. To mitigate this, AFA pledged a firm crackdown on such practices to protect both the farmers and consumers. 

The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the interests of Kenyan farmers and promoting local agricultural value chains as part of the national food security agenda," the statement read in part.