Kenya gazettes cocoa to be among scheduled crops to boost production, stabilize markets
KENYA – The government of Kenya has officially recognized cocoa, mung beans (locally known as Ndengu), jute (Mrenda), and cocoyam as ‘Scheduled Crops.’
This classification enables the government to regulate and promote these crops through targeted policies aimed at enhancing production and stabilizing markets.
According to Agriculture and Livestock Development CS Andrew Karanja, Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.)) and Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) are now included as scheduled crops under the Crops Act, 2013.
This move is part of Kenya’s strategy to diversify its crop exports and strengthen its presence in lucrative international markets, particularly in Europe and Asia.
Scheduled crops, regulated by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), include specific guidelines for production, marketing, and post-harvest handling.
Farmers will benefit from credit facilities, access to farm inputs, and technical assistance, with an expectation to boost productivity and market access both locally and internationally.
CS Karanja also mentioned measures such as registering growers, growers’ associations, and dealers in Mung beans and cocoyam. Processing plants, warehouses, collection centers, and markets will need certificates, and traders will require export and import clearance permits.
This initiative is set to elevate these crops to the level of established agricultural exports like tea, coffee, and sugarcane, with a focus on expanding markets and scaling production of emerging export commodities with significant growth potential.
The cocoa industry, in particular, is experiencing growth, with 2022 exports amounting to approximately $18.9 million (about Ksh2.45 billion). Key markets include Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Spain, and Madagascar, with notable growth in exports to Indonesia.
Notably, the exports to Indonesia surged by 80% between 2021 and 2022, demonstrating the growing demand for Kenyan cocoa.
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