Kenya has received a Kes 643 million grant from the European Union to fund the cereals value chain and boost production post COVID-19.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Prof. Hamadi Boga has said the grant is part of a Kshs 15 billion fund expected to finance a government initiative to increase cereal production across 13 high potential counties.
Kenya produced 4 million metric tonnes of cereals in 2019 which was 5 percent lower than the average recorded in the previous 5 years in what was blamed on flooding among other factors.
However, Agriculture Principal Secretary Prof. Hamadi Boga says the deficit has been partially bridged by an increase of 15,710 metric tonnes of cereals annually in the country’s grain reserve.
Over the next five years, the government is targeting to invest Kes 5 billion to increase cereals production.
The project targets 185,000 farmers and will expected to increase, maize, beans, sorghum green grams and cow-peas in 13 counties.
To reduce post-harvest losses, the government is refurbishing 11 warehouses in targeted counties.
The EU grant will also finance market access programs, and training of cereals farmers on crop husbandry to produce quality cereals.
