The government had assured maize farmers across the country that they will be given first priority in buying their maize.
The cabinet made the assurance when it met on Tuesday for the third time at the State House.
"Cabinet noted that harvesting of maize was ongoing across the country, with this year’s crop estimated to yield about 30 million bags of maize. In honour of our nation’s sacred duty to our farmers, Cabinet resolved that the farmers' produce will be accorded priority access to the market," a statement released after the meeting said.
The assurance serves to calm maize farmers across the country who had grown worried that they would have lacked a market for their produce with the impending importation of 10 million bags of GMO maize.
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi on Tuesday revealed that the maize will come in between February and April 2023.
Linturi said in a statement the imports would only follow after a review establishes there are deficits.
During the cabinet meeting, it was established that the country's annual maize consumption is 45 million bags.
This means the deficit which will have to be brought in should be nothing less than 15 million bags.
"Mindful of the solemn duty of the State to secure the affordability of the basic food items, the deficit arising from the lower than expected domestic yields will be bridged through the importation of 10 million bags of maize."
The cabinet said the mandate to import the maize duty-free has been given to the private sector.
"As part of the administration's long-term food security plan, our farmers from across the country will have access to fertilizer at a subsidised cost of Sh3,500.00, a move that will boost food production and help bring down the overall cost of production, and with it the rising cost of living," the cabinet affirmed.
