Millers Seek to Import Wheat from India as Deficit Hits Kenya

Kenya may lift the current restrictions on Indian wheat imports following the current deficit of the commodity in the country.

Kenya banned wheat imports from India after the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) raised concern over a fungal disease that the country is worried would affect local crops if allowed.

Currently, the country cannot import wheat from Russia and Ukraine following the ongoing war that led to the closure of ports, inhibiting the shipping of the commodity.

Speaking during a consultative meeting on the role of biotechnology in addressing the feed crisis in Kenya, Cereal Millers Association chief executive Paloma Fernandes said India is the other alternative for wheat globally, with bumper harvests in March, April, and June. Paloma noted that Indian wheat is cheaper than the rest of the world, where it sells a ton of wheat at $100 (11,500 shillings).

‘’Generally, in the second half of the year, which would be now, we are supposed to start ordering wheat from Russia and Ukraine, but now this is not available. The other alternative for wheat is India which has a glut,’’ she said.

Millers have also urged the government to suspend levies and all duties to mitigate the high cost of flour in the market.

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‘’We are also asking the government to help incentivize farmers locally so that they can produce more food, and if we do need to import, do that now so that we have stock for our use later on,’’ Fernandes said,’’

Millers are concerned that a delay in planting in Ukraine, which usually starts in March, will highly affect Kenya since it nearly imports all its wheat from Russia and Ukraine. Since the war broke, the prices have been increasing, pushing the cost of living up.

For instance, the latest numbers indicate that wheat importation stood at Ksh.11 billion and Ksh.5 billion from Russia and Ukraine, respectively, in 2019. The conflict directly puts a strain on this supply chain rendering the price of wheat with an upward trend.

Most countries worldwide are dependent on the commodity’s production in Russia and Ukraine and have started to search for alternative source markets. Currently, Nigeria, South Africa, Oman, Egypt, and Israel have approached India to supply wheat to meet their demands. Tanzania and Uganda have also indicated that they will be shipping the grain from India.