The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has issued updated wheat pricing in a daring attempt to shield local farmers from the negative impacts of low-cost imports and growing input costs, as part of a strategy change aimed at reviving Kenya’s indigenous wheat sector.
This occurs in the context of recent tax hikes and newly enforced import limitations on wheat, which have had an impact on both the food and agriculture industries.
The new price directive, which pegs a minimum farm gate price for locally produced wheat, is designed to ensure that farmers earn fair returns for their labor while discouraging dependence on foreign-grown grain.
According to AFA, the adjusted pricing structure considers the rising cost of production driven by higher fuel, fertilizer, and machinery expenses, all of which have escalated following recent fiscal policy reforms.
“We are committed to safeguarding the interests of local wheat growers while ensuring food security,” said AFA Director General, Kello Harsama. “This pricing policy is part of a broader strategy to achieve agricultural sustainability and self-sufficiency.”
In tandem with the pricing policy, the government has also introduced stricter import quotas aimed at curbing the influx of foreign wheat, particularly from Russia and Ukraine. While this is intended to protect the domestic market, millers have raised concerns over potential flour shortages and increased costs of processed goods.
Farmers, however, have welcomed the move. For years, they’ve struggled to compete with subsidized imports that often undercut their prices. “This is a win for us,” said Mary Wambui, a wheat farmer in Narok. “We’ve been working at a loss, but now we can finally breathe.”
While implementation challenges remain, stakeholders view AFA’s announcement as a significant step toward correcting market imbalances and reinforcing Kenya’s food sovereignty.
The question now is whether policy support will be sustained long enough to translate into real, lasting change for the country’s farming communities.