- Kenya is exporting premium Pishori rice despite a major local supply gap.
- Government plans duty free rice imports to bridge the shortage.
- Kagwe wants more funding to boost agricultural production.
Kenya is taking advantage of strong demand for its premium rice in foreign markets, even as the country turns to imports to bridge a significant shortfall in local production. This is according to Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe.
Speaking in Malindi, Kagwe said Kenyan rice, particularly the Pishori variety, attracts higher prices abroad because of its quality and strong demand in international markets.
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Therefore, he said, the country should continue exploiting the export market while putting more effort into increasing domestic production to reduce reliance on imports.
Government moves to plug the supply gap
To address the shortage, the government plans to bring in at least 490,000 metric tonnes of rice duty-free. Currently, Kenya consumes about 1.3 million tonnes of rice annually, creating a deficit of approximately one million tonnes that imports must fill.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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