Export market for Rice in Kenya (12월, 2022)

The Kenyan government has announced a significant move to reduce the cost of rice for consumers by abolishing a 35% duty on imports, effective from February 2023. This decision allows traders to import up to 600,000 tonnes of rice duty-free between February and August of the next year. Kenya, which imports about 80% of its rice consumption, stands to benefit greatly from this initiative. The move is anticipated to lower the retail price of rice by the same percentage, providing relief to consumers facing high food and living expenses. Additionally, the government is also exempting maize imports from duty as part of an effort to decrease the overall cost of living. This development comes as the National Irrigation Authority commissioned a new dam to increase rice production in Mwea, the country's largest rice-producing scheme.