How Kenya Increased Maize Production From 40 to 61 Million Bags - President Ruto [Video]

President William Ruto now says the country has increased its maize production from 40 million to 61 million bags in one and a half years. 

Speaking on Thursday, May 9, at the Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit, KICC, Nairobi, Ruto attributed the increase to crop-specific and adequate fertilizer. 

"My case is bolstered by direct and irrefutable evidence from Kenya’s investment in food security and agro-industrial productivity under the bottom-up economic transformation agenda. Three years ago, our national food production was low, primarily due to high input costs. In 2022, maize production was only 30 million bags against a normal production of 40 million bags," President Ruto stated. 

He added," To turn this situation around, we decided to make inputs, especially fertilizer, more accessible and affordable. This initiative resulted in a harvest of 61 million bags of maize in 2023. We achieved this by leveraging technology, utilizing an integrated digital platform that registered over 6 million farmers. Through this platform, farmers access fertilizer using mobile phone vouchers, make payments and receive collection notifications at nearby government storage facilities.

Kenya's case is a clear testimony - Ruto

"A year ago, our maize production was about 40 million bags. By using crop-specific and adequate fertilizer through a technology-based e-voucher system over the past one and a half years, we have increased our production from 40… pic.twitter.com/nOTZ5Q0r0R

— NairobiLeo.co.ke (@Nairobi_Leo) May 9, 2024

The Head of State was making a case for a common strategy among African leaders for joint investment, and logistical collaboration to ensure every arable acre of Africa's land receives the right type and quantity of fertilizer. 

President Ruto mentioned that more land is now under cultivation, with each acre yielding higher production due to the availability and affordability of fertilizer through the e-voucher technology. 

"To achieve Africa's green revolution, large-scale subsidized fertilizer use is a necessary imperative. Therefore, as we continue our deliberations, I urge this Summit to pay particular attention to several critical areas.