Kenya is planning to increase its annual bixa production capacity to at least 3,000 tonnes. Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the initiative during a visit to Kwale County, highlighting its potential to expand cultivation and create new opportunities for farmers in the coastal region, reports
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
The programme will focus on increasing the number of growers, distributing certified seedlings and strengthening agricultural extension services.
At present, around 10,000 farmers in Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties are engaged in bixa production. The government plans to increase this number through the wider distribution of certified planting material.
According to Mutahi Kagwe, current annual output stands at between 1,000 and 1,400 tonnes, leaving significant potential to increase production.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen value addition and exports while supporting employment across the coastal region. The processing sector currently provides around 150 direct jobs, with additional employment generated through farming, transport and supply chains. Reaching the 3,000-tonne production target is expected to further expand these opportunities.
