Wheat production to drop as Kenyan farmers reduce acreage

The country is staring at a drastic drop in wheat production after farmers in the North Rift reduced acreage under the produce for other crops due to the high cost of production, and poor prices.

A spot-check by AVDelta News in the country’ food-basket revealed that many wheat farmers have reduced acreage under the crop.

Many farmers interviewed in the region demanded that the government review duty imposed on imported wheat from current 10 percent to 35 percent to cushion local farmers as the country stares at reduced wheat production this season.

Mr Johnson Murei, a wheat farmer from Moiben, Uasin-Gishu County, said that he planted only 50 acres of wheat compared to 120 acres due to the high cost of production and poor prices.

"I struggled to sell my wheat last season due to cheap imports. For us to continue to grow wheat, we need better prices by the government controlling imports of wheat since it is hurting us," said Mr Murei, who has planted 180 acres of commercial maize and 120 acres of seed maize on his farm.

According to Mr Murei, the high cost of chemicals and other inputs have pushed up the cost of production to Sh40,000 per acre making the venture less profitable.

To break-even, he says that farmers need the price to go up to Sh4,000 compared to Sh2,800 offered by traders and millers.

Mr George Kibet, another wheat farmer, said that he reduced his acreage by 50 percent this season due to high cost of production and low returns from the crop.

“The problem is that most farmers  lack a market for wheat. Most millers have shunned locally produced wheat for cheap imports leaving farmers at the mercy of brokers,” regretted Mr Kibet.

Last season, most farmers were stuck with their produce as millers and traders offered at Sh2,400 and Sh2,800 compared to maize crop that was bought at between Sh3,400 and Sh3,600 per 90 kg bag.

“The government reduced the duty on imported wheat to 10 per cent, making local millers flood the local market with cheaply imported wheat. This was costly for farmers since most failed to break even, the government should review the duty and also provide other affordable inputs such as seeds and fertilizer to encourage production,” said Mr Kipkorir Menjo, the Kenya Farmers Association (KFA) official.

Kenya produces less than 500,000 tonnes of wheat against consumption of over 1 million tonnes, forcing the country to import to plug the deficit.

Wheat in the North Rift region is mainly grown in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and parts of Elgeyo-Marakwet counties while South Rift regions include Narok County.

Data from counties in the North Rift region indicates that there is projected decline in production as more more farmers shift from wheat to maize and other crops.

Experts have attributed the reduction in acreage to cheap imports coupled with higher cost of production compared to the maize crop.

“According to Samuel Yego, wheat  acreage stood at 19,000 ha last year but this year Uasin-Gishu is projecting at 18,000 ha which translates to 616,000 bags of 90 kgs. Last season, millers did not buy locally produced wheat from farmer, discouraging farmers  from growing the crop,” said Mr Yego, an agronomist.

He warned that the production is expected to go down if no interventions are made to cushion the local  wheat farmers.

The case is the same in the neighbouring Trans Nzoia County where wheat production is projected to decline since most farmers shifted to lucrative maize crop.