Kenya – Wheat Import Market of 3 Million Tons
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Kenya is one of the largest Wheat producers in Africa, with Wheat being the second most important cereal crop after corn. In Kenya, Wheat is grown mainly in the greater Rift Valley and in Timau on the slopes of Mount Kenya. Wheat is a versatile crop that can be used in many ways, from making bread and cakes to animal feed.
The most common kind of Wheat grown in Kenya is the Durum. This high-quality Wheat is used for making pasta, couscous, and bulgur. It is mainly grown in the Rift Valley and requires a dry climate and good soil drainage. Other Wheat varieties include Robin, KS- Chui, Kenya eagle, and Kenya kingbird. The country has approximately 150,000 hectares under Wheat cultivation.
Ecological Requirements: Wheat does well in moderate rainfall ranging from 500-1300 mm in Kenya. In terms of altitude, Wheat growing areas have an altitude range of 1500-2900m asl. Wheat requires a relatively warm temperature range of 15-25 degrees centigrade for at least three months. Temperatures above 35 degrees centigrade stop photosynthesis and the growth of the crop. At a higher temperature, e.g., 40 degrees centigrade, the crop dies due to heat. In terms of soil, for optimum production, Wheat requires a deep fertile soil well drained and with an optimum soil PH of between 5.5-7.5. Wheat crop is susceptible to soil salinity.
Propagation of Wheat is by seeds, and below is the procedure that needs to be followed to get it right in Wheat farming in Kenya. Land preparation for Wheat farming is made more accessible by using Catapult 480SL 200ml/20l, a non-selective herbicide used to kill all types of weeds.
Detail propagation: Till the soil to a depth of about 6 inches and mix soil with manure and DAP. To improve the rate of nutrient uptake and stimulate crop growth, among other benefits, mix DAP 50kg and manure 1 ton with 1kg of HUMIPOWER. Sow Wheat seeds through broadcasting, dibbling the seeds, or using a drill at a depth of about 4cm and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. A rake can be used in small-scale farming. This prevents seeds from drying out in the sun and being fed by birds. Watering newly sown seeds may be optional, especially if planting has been done on the onset of rains or the soil is moist enough to allow the seeds to germinate, usually after 4-7 days.
Kenya Wheat Trade
According to the AgFlow data, Russia led its import market with 164,800 tons of Wheat in January, followed by Ukraine (59,750 tons) and Canada (22,600 tons). The import volume totaled 3 million tons in 2022. In 2020, Kenya imported Wheat for $400 million, becoming the 34th largest Wheat importer in the world. In the same year, Wheat was Kenya’s 6th most imported product. Kenya imports Wheat primarily from: Russia ($127 million), Argentina ($117 million), Germany ($43.8 million), Poland ($22 million), and Canada ($20 million). The fastest-growing import markets in Wheat for Kenya between 2019 and 2020 were Russia ($22.7 million), Germany ($15 million), and Argentina ($13.4 million).
In 2020, Kenya exported $509k in Wheat, making it the 64th largest exporter of Wheat in the world. During the period, Wheat was the 390th most shipped product in Kenya. The leading destination of Wheat exports from Kenya is Rwanda ($242k), Uganda ($236k), and Seychelles ($30.8k). In 2023, the approximate price range for Kenyan Wheat is between $0.19 and $0.42 per kilogram or between $0.09 and $0.19 per pound(lb). The price in Kenyan Shilling is KES 21.16 per kg. In 2018, the average tariff for Kenya in Wheat was 13.7%.
Other sources: GREENLIFE
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