The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has warned that the prices of some key stable foods including maize and wheat are likely to spike before the year ends if the government fails to act fast and import more rice.
According to the AFA Director General Bruno Linyiru, in a statement on Thursday, July 31, the country would either face an acute shortage of food or the prices of maize and wheat products would spike significantly, if more rice is not imported by December.
In a gazette notice on Tuesday, July 29, the Agriculture Ministry revealed that no taxes would be levied on rice imports until December 31, 2025, in a move aimed at alleviating pressure on the local rice market.
However, following the move, stakeholders expressed their disappointment, warning that this could potentially disadvantage farmers. Linyiru has, however, assured that the strategy would have no economic side effects on the local market or farmers.
"Before this decision was reached, the Government, through the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), actively procured and continues to secure rice directly from paddy as it is milled. KNTC remains committed to supporting local rice farmers by providing a guaranteed market throughout the milling process," Linyiru said.
Currently, the country produces 264,000 metric tonnes of rice, which is 80 percent less than what the country normally consumes every year. To cover this gap, the government is prompted to import 1.036 million metric tonnes from abroad, according to the AFA boss.
In addition to reinforcing food security and stabilizing prices of essential food commodities, Linyiru has noted that the importation also aims to ensure rice remains affordable to low-income households.
"The balance has traditionally been bridged through imports. However, recent global supply disruptions and price shocks have hindered access, disproportionately affecting low-income households," Linyiru said.
"Failure to import rice under the current shortfall would lead to either acute food scarcity or a sharp spike in prices not only for rice but also for other staples such as maize flour and wheat products. This would create a domino effect on the cost of living and place an unsustainable burden on millions of Kenyan households," he added.
To guarantee quality and consumer safety, AFA has noted that only grade 1 milled white rice that meets strict Kenyan and International Standards will be permitted in the country, and it will be mandatory for all imports to have a certificate of compliance from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
The authority has also assured that it is working jointly with Japan to see the expansion of the Mwea, Ahero, and Bura Irrigation Schemes to boost local rice production capacity, in a broader vision of ensuring Kenya attains self-sufficiency in the near future.
"It is important to note that this is not the first time Kenya has resorted to rice importation to supplement local production. This will continue into the foreseeable future only until we attain self-sufficiency," AFA said.
