The government will import basic commodities to bridge a possible deficits to be witnessed in the new year.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi says basic commodities to be imported will include rice, sugar and maize.
He says the imports will bridge deficits of local production relative to consumption.
CS Linturi says Kenya will import 100,000 metric tonnes of sugar.
“This year our sugar domestic demand is 980,000 metric tones while our domestic production is 700,000 metric tones leading to a shortfall of 280,000 metric tonnes which necessitates imports,” CS Linturi said.
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At the same time, the government will import 10 million bags of maize.
The maize imports will enable the country have adequate stocks to last until the next major harvest of July/August 2023.
The Agriculture Ministry says the national annual maize consumption in Kenya stands at 52 million bags.
Additionally, the government will import 600,000 metric tonnes of milled rice from the first week of February.
According to the CS, the country’s annual rice consumption is estimated at 600,000 metric tones against the country’s national production of 150,000 metric tones.
“It is also imperative to note that due to changing consumption patterns of Kenyans, rice consumption in the country has significantly increased further straining the local supplies,” he stated.
