Govt Automates Jute Products Import Licenses and Permits

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has officially gazetted jute as a scheduled crop in Kenya, marking a significant step toward formal regulation, promotion, and development of the fiber crop and its value chain.

Through Gazette Notice No. 14820 dated 15th November 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Andrew Karanja designated jute, whose scientific name is Corchorus spp., as a scheduled crop under the Crops Act 2013, and the Agriculture and Food Authority Act, 2013.

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The notice transfers oversight of the crop to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), thus placing it alongside other key fibers such as cotton and sisal.

AFA has also announced the full automation of the import licensing and permit system for jute products, set to be launched live on 1st January 2026.

The new digital process will be accessible through two integrated platforms: the AFA Integrated Management Information System (AFA-IMIS) at https://imis.afa.go.ke/afa/ and the Kenya Trade Net Single Window System operated by KENTRADE at http://tfp.kenyatradenet.go.ke/.

Speaking on the development, AFA Director-General Bruno Linyiru said the move aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and the national goal of easing the cost of doing business.

“By bringing jute under scheduled crop status and automating trade processes, we are creating predictability, transparency, and efficiency for investors, manufacturers, and farmers alike,” Linyiru stated.

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The automation ends the era of manual applications, which most of the time caused delays in the importation of raw jute, jute bags, jute yarn, and other finished jute products. Importers will now have the advantage to apply, pay, and receive licenses and permits electronically, with real-time tracking and reduced bureaucratic hurdles.

This is an initiative that has been embraced well by the industry players, with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Chairman Rajan Shah noting that local manufacturers of woven polypropylene bags have long called for a level playing field.

“The automated system will give visibility on volumes entering the country and ensure compliance with quality standards and applicable duties,” Shah said.

Jute bags remain widely used in Kenya for packaging coffee, cocoa, nuts, grains, and fertilizer, which has seen its demand rise in recent years due to increased preference for eco-friendly packaging, especially from foreign buyers of Kenyan coffee and nuts.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Dr. Karanja indicated that the scheduling of jute is also intended to revive local cultivation.

“Kenya has suitable agro-ecological zones in Western, Nyanza, and Coastal regions for jute production. With proper support on certified seeds, good agricultural practices, and market linkages, farmers can earn attractive incomes while reducing import dependency,” he said.

Farmer organizations in Busia, Homa Bay, and Kilifi counties have already shown interest in pilot jute projects in partnership with AFA’s Fibers Directorate.

 Starting 1st January 2026, all importers of jute and its products will be required to use the new digital platforms, as manual applications will no longer be accepted after the deadline.

 AFA has urged stakeholders to register early on both portals to avoid disruptions.

 This acts as a signal for Kenya’s deliberate effort to modernize the fibers sub-sector, promote sustainable packaging, and create new opportunities for farmers and manufacturers in the economic space.

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