Traders cut importation of staple foods, including maize, rice, and wheat, by more than 20 percent in 2024, as domestic harvests improved across major producing regions.
According to statistics from the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), combined imports of the three staples fell from 3.41 million tonnes in 2023 to 2.65 million tonnes in 2024 —a reduction of about 756,208 tonnes, or approximately 22.3 percent.
Specifically, shipments of maize fell by 274,468 tonnes, rice by 301,242 tonnes, and wheat by 180,498 tonnes, marking one of the sharpest declines in years and highlighting the positive impact of favourable weather, improved yields, and government support in substituting foreign purchases with local supply.
In 2024, traders imported 214,067 tonnes of maize, equivalent to around 2.4 million 90 kg bags. This was a 56.18 percent drop on the 488,535 tonnes imported in 2023, a decline largely attributed to bumper harvests resulting from favourable weather conditions.
Farmers pack dry maize into bags in Nakuru County on September 23, 2024.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Increased yields in the North Rift and other maize-producing regions reduced the country’s reliance on imports.
“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,” said AFA.
Maize is Kenya’s main staple crop and plays a crucial role in food security. It is primarily cultivated in the counties of Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Narok, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia, Nakuru, Bungoma, Kakamega, and Nandi. Different varieties of maize are planted based on altitude and rainfall patterns. The expanded local harvest in 2023 meant that traders could reduce their foreign purchases in 2024.
However, this bumper harvest resulted in price adjustments. The average farm-gate price of maize decreased from Sh4,094.44 in 2023 to Sh3,443.22 in 2024, after the government set the National Cereals and Produce Board’s (NCPB) purchase price at Sh3,500 per 90 kg bag, down from Sh4,000 the previous year. As a result, the value of domestic maize production fell from Sh199 billion to Sh154.03 billion, demonstrating the trade-off between consumer affordability and farmer earnings.
"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 added.
There was also significant import substitution for rice, with shipments falling from 930,930 tonnes in 2023 to 629,688 tonnes in 2024—a reduction of 301,242 tonnes—reflecting government efforts to boost self-sufficiency.
Additionally, the area cultivated for rice increased by 22.2 percent, rising from 31,671 hectares to 40,682 hectares. This led to an increase in production of 46,389 tonnes, totalling 290,447 tonnes.
Much of this growth came from the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kirinyaga County, which contributed 180,809 tonnes. Regions such as Ahero in Kisumu and Bunyala in Busia also made contributions, as did other schemes in Garissa. Government policies promoting irrigation and import substitution have made rice an increasingly important supplement to maize in food security planning.
"Rice can be considered an alternative cereal to supplement maize, as it is favoured by households in ASAL regions. In Kenya, 80 percent of the rice is grown in irrigated ecosystems created by the government and local people. The remaining 20 percent is grown in rain-fed conditions," said the regulator.
Rice milling in progress at Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society mill in Wang'uru.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Meanwhile, wheat imports saw a more modest decrease, falling from 1.99 million tonnes in 2023 to 1.81 million tonnes in 2024 — a reduction of 180,498 tonnes, while the domestic production rose slightly from 309,483 to 310,973 tonnes, supported by favourable weather and access to subsidised fertiliser.
Wheat productivity increased from 33 to 33.9 bags per hectare, with Narok producing 118,135 tonnes alone. These gains increased the value of local wheat production by 14 percent, from Sh12.3 billion in 2023 to Sh14 billion in 2024, thereby easing import demand and enhancing local market stability.
