Kenya's wheat imports to remain steady in 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, October 27, 2020
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NAIROBI, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is expected to import one million tons of wheat in 2020, a similar figure as last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry said on Monday.

Anthony Kioko, CEO of Cereal Growers Association, told Xinhua in Nairobi said that government restrictions put in place at the beginning of the year reduced demand for wheat products in the country.

"Wheat imports are likely to remain the same as last year," Kioko said, noting that local wheat production was affected due to a slight reduction in area under cultivation despite ideal weather for cereal production.

According to the grain lobby, domestic production is expected to hit 350,000 tons which is not sufficient to meet local consumption requirements.

Kioko noted that despite a high import duty, foreign wheat remains cheaper as compared to locally sourced wheat.

He noted that most of Kenya's wheat consumption is sourced from eastern Europe and western Asia.

He said that local farmers require government support in order to compete favorably with imported wheat so that the country can expand the agricultural sector.

"It will be better for the country if farmers have a viable price that allows them to continuously invest in wheat cultivation because we have the capacity, land and weather for local production to meet the total country demand," he added. Enditem

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