This archive report was first published on 29 August 2021.
Kenya's cereal producers are sounding the alarm over the country's growing reliance on imports of maize from Tanzania, a trend that has seen exports from Tanzania to Kenya exceed imports for the first time in decades.
According to data from Kenya's agriculture ministry, the country imported maize valued at Ksh4.2 billion ($38.18 million) from Tanzania in 2019, with imports from Uganda and Tanzania accounting for about 95 percent of the total in 2020.
However, the imports have raised concerns among cereal producers, who argue that they erode the Kenyan tax base and lead to job losses. "This country should not import what it can produce locally. Because we must not forget that for every metric tonne of grain or some other produce we import, we have in essence exported a few jobs," said Anthony Kioko, the chief executive of the Cereals Growers Association (CGA).
The association is now calling for a review of bilateral and EAC protocols on food commodities, citing the need to protect the Kenyan tax base and promote local food production.
But the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Hamadi Boga, defended the country's move to import maize, citing a maize deficit during the January-July period, which necessitates imports.
"Kenya's annual production target has been 44 million 90kg bags or approximately 3.6 tonnes. This year it was 43 million bags. In 2020 it was 44 million bags. We do not import more than three million bags from the region," said Prof Boga, adding, "This year, it is estimated that the country will need to import a similar amount to be food secure."
