The Status of Wheat Industry in Kenya

Wheat is the second most important cereal grain in Kenya after maize. Wheat farming in Kenya is largely done for commercial purposes on a large-scale. Kenya is self-sufficient in the hard variety of wheat, but is a net importer of the softer variety.

Wheat growing areas in Kenya include the scenic Rift Valley regions of Uasin Gishu, Narok, Marakwet, Elgeyo, Londiani, Molo, Nakuru and Timau areas. These areas have altitudes ranging between 1200m and 1,500m above sea level, with annual rainfall varying between 800 mm and 2,000 mm, with up to 2,500 mm on higher grounds.

Wheat varieties grown in Kenya include the high-yielding and drought-resistant Njoro BW1 and Njoro BW2. Njoro BW1 is grown in dry parts such as Lower Narok, Machakos and Laikipia. Njoro BW2 performs well in acidic soils, like parts of Uasin Gishu and Nakuru districts. Njoro BW2 produces 35 bags of wheat per acre. Other varieties are the duma and chozi, mainly grown in dry areas, and Kenya heroe and Kenya yombi.

Wheat consumption in Kenya is expected to continue increasing due to changing dietary patterns and a robust food service sector. A growing preference for wheat products is evident across the income groups in both rural and urban areas, with both commercial and home-baking becoming common. Demand for wheat products is also evident in the growth of pasta, confectionery and breakfast cereals sectors, while a limited amount of wheat is also used in the manufacture of animal feeds.

Wheat requires a number of measures to be taken by a farmer for it to give good yields. For a one acre of wheat to do well, one will need at least 5,000 shillings for leasing land, 1,800 shillings for ploughing and 3,000 shillings for two sets of harrowing. More to these, the farmer will need 1,800 shillings for planting, 3,000 shillings for the fertilizer and 3,500 shillings for seed. Herbicides could take up to 10,000 shillings depending on the weather.

After harvesting, the buying price for wheat has to be at least 3,600 shillings for a 90-kilogram bag of wheat for the farmer to get good profits, but most times, millers tend to take advantage of farmers and end up offering them 3,000 shillings making it hard for most of them sustain themselves in the wheat business the following year.

Kenya’s wheat production is less than one quarter of its annual demand, and the deficit is offset by imports. The bulk of the wheat imports are from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Australia. Wheat imports from the U.S. are primarily for Food Aid programs. Imports into Kenya by registered regional millers are assessed a 10 percent ad-valorem tariff; otherwise the EAC external tariff of 35 percent applies. Wheat exports from Kenya are minimal, and attributable to limited cross-border trade with the neighboring countries.

Wheat has benefited the Kenyan economy in a number of ways that include:

1. Promotion of industrialization – Wheat farming has led to the development of related industries in the growing areas and also in the major urban centers like Nairobi, Eldoret and Nakuru. These are mainly industries that deal in confectionaries.
2. Improvement of infrastructure – Roads have been established in the wheat growing areas to assist in the transportation of the Rift Valley region, this has assisted in the improvement of infrastructure.
3. Saves foreign exchange – All the wheat grown in Kenya is for local consumption. However, the country still has to import some wheat to satisfy her domestic requirements. Wheat farming therefore helps the government to save foreign exchange by reducing the amount of wheat imports.
4. Employment – Many people have gotten employment through wheat farming directly and indirectly. For example, while some have been employed directly on the wheat farms, others are employed in the related industries e.g. bakeries and other confectionaries.
5. Source of income – Through wheat fanning, farmers have earned an income directly through the sale of their crops. This has raised their standards of living and helped in alleviating poverty in the country.

But at the same time, wheat farmers tend to be faced with a number of challenges in the process of ensuring that the cereal is produced. Some of these challenges include the following:

1. Inadequate capital – Some of the small-scale farmers do not have enough capital for the purchase of expensive farm input such as fertilizers, herbicides and hire farm machinery e. g., tractors and combine harvesters.
2. Pests and diseases – The crop is in some instances affected by pests e.g., dusty brown beetle, aphids and the quelea birds and diseases e. g., stem rust, leaf rust, glume blotch. These destroy the crop leading to low yields.
3. Climatic hazards – Heavy stormy rains during the rainy seasons destroys the crop as the Wheat is flattened leading to rotting. Drought before the wheat is ready may destroy the entire crop.
4. Price fluctuation – Price fluctuations on the domestic market leads to losses for the farmers as at times, they are made to sell their produce at very low prices.
5. Inadequate storage facilities – During times of bumper harvest the existing storage facilities are rendered inadequate making the farmers produce to go to waste.

Related: Uasin Gishu County: The home of Champions