Agriculture Stories

Government releases 200,000 bags of subsidised maize to millers to stabilise flour prices
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 26, 2025

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Senator Mutahi Kagwe said the consignment will be sold at a subsidised rate of Sh4,250 per 90-kilogramme bag and distrib...

Boost for farmers as sugarcane prices raised to Sh5,500 per tonne
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 23, 2025

Ronoh directed all millers to pay farmers without delay, stressing the importance of honouring the new price to protect the livelihoods of farmers in...

Kagwe calls for overhaul of agriculture funding, criticises three per cent budget allocation
Rachael Mutabasi  |  May 21, 2025

Kagwe pledged to work with the National Treasury, Parliament, and other policymakers to raise the sector’s budget allocation to 10 per cent.

Governors support state’s Sh12.29 billion lease deal to revive four sugar factories
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 16, 2025

West Kenya Sugar Company will invest Sh5.7 billion in Nzoia Sugar, Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries will put in Sh4.5 billion for Chemelil Sugar, Wes...

Livestock ministry warns budget underfunding risks delaying crucial projects
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 16, 2025

Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke revealed that the department’s approved budget stands at Sh9.9 billion, split between Sh5.07 billion for recurrent...

Farmers, activists demand full disclosure on pesticides ban amid health and legal fears
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 16, 2025

The demand is being led by the Route to Food Initiative and supported by other groups such as the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya, Ken...

Senators summon CS Kagwe over leasing of state-owned sugar mills, demand full lease agreements
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 15, 2025

The move that has sparked outrage among legislators and farmers in sugarcane-growing regions.

Linturi quits UDA, says he won’t be part of a party that embraces corruption, murder
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 15, 2025

Linturi accused the ruling party of straying from its founding ideals and engaging in abductions, corruption, excessive taxation and murder.

CS Kagwe calls for removal of value-added tax on key farm inputs to boost sector competitiveness
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 14, 2025

Kagwe specifically proposed that VAT on agricultural machinery and packaging materials used in agro-processing be zero-rated to promote value addition...

President Ruto, CS Kagwe sack directors of Chemelil, Nzoia and Sony sugar companies after leasing deal
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 12, 2025

President Ruto, in a gazette notice dated May 12, 2025, revoked the appointments of the board chairpersons at the three sugar companies. Eng John Nyam...

Kenya to open coffee auctions to global buyers to boost farmers' earnings, Kagwe says
Bashir Mbuthia  |  May 11, 2025

According to Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya's improved digital infrastructure now allows international buyers to participate in the coffee auction...

Government leases four state-owned sugar mills to private firms for 30 years
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 09, 2025

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Friday said the lease deal covers Nzoia, Chemelil, Sony, and Muhoroni sugar co...

Desert locust outbreaks persist across North Africa, FAO warns of ongoing threat
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Apr 26, 2025

The FAO emphasises the need for continued surveys and control measures to prevent further development of the outbreaks.

Tanzania hits back at Malawi, South Africa with trade ban on agricultural products
Amina Wako  |  Apr 24, 2025

The trade measures include a complete ban on both the export and import of agricultural commodities between Tanzania and the two countries. In Malawi’...

Garissa traders call for unified business permit to ease licensing burden
Issa Hussein  |  Apr 23, 2025

The traders, said numerous licenses were a burden to the traders and were a major obstacle to economic growth.

Authority grants import levy exemption for nuts and oil crops from EAC countries
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Apr 17, 2025

According to AFA, the move aims to reduce costs for companies operating within these zones, which will no longer be required to pay import levies on n...

Government defends the sale of donated Russian fertiliser
Amina Wako  |  Apr 08, 2025

According to the government, the blending process made the fertiliser usable and ensured more farmers benefitted while promoting soil health sustainab...

Kenya announces 50% duty waiver on importation of yellow maize
Alfred Onyango  |  Apr 04, 2025

The move aims to stabilise ‘unga’ prices while easing pressure on the limited maize grain stocks in the country.

Increased awareness of fertiliser subsidy programme fuelling demand, CS Kagwe says
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Mar 31, 2025

Many farmers are doubling their fertiliser uptake, anticipating a bumper harvest that could boost food security and reduce the country’s dependence on...

Record 28 million people face acute hunger in conflict-ravaged DR Congo
Reuters  |  Mar 27, 2025

Those facing acute hunger are classified as Phase 3 or higher in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Of the 28 million in Congo,...

Ministry moves to avert disruption of flower exports to European Union
Mary Wambui  |  Mar 25, 2025

He stated that the Ministry has declared zero tolerance for False Codling Moth (FCM) and is committed to ensuring 100 per cent compliance with EU regu...

20,000 tonnes of fertiliser arrive at Mombasa port as planting season starts
Farhiya Hussein  |  Mar 23, 2025

Authorities have assured farmers that the fertiliser will be distributed efficiently, reaching key agricultural regions before the rains set in.

CS Kagwe says farmers to get subsidised fertiliser after logistical challenges resolved
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 23, 2025

So far, at least 2.6 million bags have been distributed for planting ahead of the long rain season, and Kagwe assured farmers that they would have eno...

Government urged to boost investment in organic farming for sustained production
Alfred Onyango  |  Mar 19, 2025

Amudavi emphasised that Kenya is one of the top six African countries, out of the ten, that have expanded their land acreage dedicated to organic agri...

Africa dragging growth in global food production despite vast potential – WB Report
Alfred Onyango  |  Mar 14, 2025

The findings come against the backdrop of concerns over the ability of current agricultural production to meet current and future food demand as the p...

Government orders destruction of 27,518 bags of expired fertilizer
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Mar 13, 2025

The destruction of the expired fertilizer is expected to take place under the supervision of KEBS, with environmental and safety measures in place.

Agriculture CS Kagwe blames tea hawkers for declining quality, defends blending at Mombasa port
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Mar 12, 2025

The CS said tea hawkers and unscrupulous traders bring in substandard tea, which affects the overall quality of the final product at auction.

Government to establish industrial park to boost livestock farming
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Mar 12, 2025

The Ministry of Agriculture is expected to present concrete measures in the coming weeks on how it plans to support livestock farmers and enhance the...

Miraa farmers struggle to sell produce as traders reject new prices in Kagwe's directive
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Mar 01, 2025

The government had set new prices after negotiations, with Grade 1 miraa expected to sell at Sh1,300 per kilogram, Grade 2 at Sh700 and Allele at Sh1,...

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