The government has launched a large-scale market intervention to purchase more than 70,000 bags of locally produced Mwea rice, in a move aimed at clearing existing stocks, improving farmers’ cash flow and supporting Kenya’s domestic rice industry.

The exercise is being implemented jointly by the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC), the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) and rice farmers’ cooperatives, led by the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MRGM).

The intervention comes as farmers prepare for a new harvest while thousands of bags from the previous season remain unsold in storage, creating cash flow challenges and limiting storage space.

Speaking during an inspection tour in Mwea, Agriculture and Food Authority Acting Director General Calistus Kundu said the government is committed to providing a reliable market for local farmers as part of efforts to increase domestic rice production and reduce reliance on imports.

Kenya National Trading Corporation Managing Director Lucy Anangwe announced that KNTC will purchase all the rice currently held by farmers’ cooperatives, with collections expected to continue until mid-August.

“We are here to assess the situation on the ground and reassure farmers that the Government remains committed to supporting the marketing of locally produced rice. KNTC is fully committed to mopping up the rice produced by farmers,” Anangwe said.

According to officials, the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society currently has more than 30,000 bags of rice in storage and expects an additional 25,000 bags from the ongoing third crop season. Self-help groups are also holding more than 15,000 bags, bringing the total volume targeted under the programme to over 70,000 bags.

To speed up deliveries, KNTC and the cooperative have agreed to transport at least two truckloads of rice each day. The milling plant will also introduce a third processing shift, increasing daily milling capacity to 56 tonnes while creating additional employment opportunities.

MRGM Chief Executive Officer Anthony Waweru said delays in marketing the rice had affected timely payments to farmers but expressed optimism that the government intervention would ease the backlog.

“We had expected to pay farmers earlier, but marketing challenges delayed the process. With KNTC now taking up the rice, we expect to clear the current stock within a month and begin paying farmers by July 20,” Waweru said.

The government says the programme is intended to strengthen Kenya’s rice value chain, improve returns for farmers and enhance food security by supporting increased local production alongside strategic imports to meet national demand.