Kenyan farmers often pay more for agro-inputs marketed as locally sourced than for similar products imported directly from abroad, according to Peter Karanja, director of Mazao na Afya Limited and Agrilife.
Karanja, who oversees both local distribution and import businesses, attributes this pricing anomaly to the structure of Kenya's agro-input supply chain. Local distributors compete to sell identical products while bearing costs such as warehousing and transport, which squeezes profit margins and inflates prices.
He further explains that many so-called local agro-input products are not genuinely manufactured in Kenya. Instead, agrochemicals and other inputs are imported, repackaged locally, and passed through multiple distributors before reaching farmers, making Kenya predominantly an importer and distributor rather than a manufacturer in this sector.
To address these challenges, Karanja advocates for investment in authentic local manufacturing capacity. This would involve collaboration between government and private sector to establish processing facilities, develop local supply chains, and increase use of domestic raw materials. Such efforts could lower prices for farmers, create jobs, and retain more economic value within Kenya.
"Local manufacturing is the way to go. It will take time, but it is essential to solving many of our problems," Karanja said.
Beyond pricing, Karanja highlights a knowledge gap among farmers regarding proper agrochemical use, safe disposal of containers, and adherence to pre-harvest intervals. Mazao Group has responded with farmer training programs, agronomy support, and innovative services such as drone applications and fumigation.
He concludes that genuine local production combined with enhanced farmer education is critical to ensuring that local agro-inputs provide real benefits rather than just adding complexity and cost to the supply chain.
