Gov't to buy all rice stock from Mwea farmers

Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Director- General, Bruno Linyiru. [MoA]

Mwea rice farmers are set to receive guaranteed and timely payments should a new deal with the government be fully implemented.

Through the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), the government plans to purchase more than 5,000 metric tonnes of locally grown rice valued at Sh500 million. Farmers can expect to receive payments within a month of delivery.

"To protect the livelihoods of over 8,500 rice farmers from Kirinyaga and neighbouring counties, KNTC will mop up over 5,000 metric tonnes of locally grown rice valued at approximately Sh500 million," said Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Director- General, Bruno Linyiru, in a statement.

"The Cooperative will receive full payment within one month after delivery, a significant improvement on previous delays that hampered farmers' operations and cash flow," he added.

The agreement follows a meeting on Thursday between the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society and officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, to address farmers' concerns, mostly the dominance of imported rice in the local market.

However, the government noted that it will continue importing the cereal to bridge the national rice deficit caused by underproduction. For instance, while the country consumes about 100,000 metric tonnes of rice each month, only 191,000 tonnes were produced in the 2024/2025 planting season, an amount enough to last just two months.

Still, the government has agreed to farmers' appeals for a temporary suspension of imports until the current local stock is absorbed.

To strike a balance between rising demand and farmer protection, the government has adopted a controlled importation policy. Since January this year, at least 94,000 metric tonnes of rice have entered the country.

"Going forward, AFA in collaboration with the ministry and other key stakeholders is spearheading initiatives to reduce rice imports by 50 per cent, through expansion of irrigation schemes, increasing area under production, introduction of high-yield rice varieties and promotion of upland rice farming, a move that will empower more farmers, increase production and productivity and enhance food security," said Linyiru.

Farmers say their efforts have been undermined by retailers repackaging imported rice as local brands, with a government crackdown is expected.

Rice is one of the three most consumed cereals in Kenya, alongside maize and wheat.