Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has introduced a comprehensive plan to scale up bixa production in Kenya, focusing on coastal regions to fully utilise the country’s 3,000-tonne annual processing capacity.

Speaking during a visit to Kenya Bixa Limited in Kwale County on July 31, 2026, Kagwe highlighted collaboration between the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) and coastal county governments as key to expanding cultivation. The initiative aims to increase raw material supplies to processors while generating employment across farming, transport, processing, and other segments of the value chain.

Key Components of the Expansion Plan

  • Distribution of certified bixa seedlings to farmers
  • Strengthening extension services for better farm management
  • Supporting farmer cooperatives to enhance marketing and credit access
  • Improving access to affordable financing mechanisms

Kagwe noted that Kenya already possesses the necessary processing infrastructure, export markets, and internationally certified manufacturing standards to compete globally, but farm-level production must grow rapidly to meet demand.

Currently, Kenya Bixa Limited processes between 1,000 and 1,400 tonnes of raw bixa annually, sourced from 7,000 to 10,000 smallholder farmers in Kwale, Kilifi, and Lamu counties, well below its 3,000-tonne capacity.

Economic Benefits for Farmers and the Value Chain

One acre of bixa can support about 160 trees spaced five metres apart, each yielding around 10 kilograms annually. This translates to approximately 1,600 kilograms per acre. At the current farm gate price of Ksh95 per kilogram, farmers can earn an estimated Ksh152,000 per acre annually.

Due to generous spacing, bixa can be intercropped with maize, beans, pigeon peas, cassava, cowpeas, and citrus fruits, offering diversified income streams for farmers.

The expansion is expected to create jobs beyond farming, including seed multiplication, transport, aggregation, processing, logistics, and export activities. Kenya Bixa Limited currently employs 150 people directly and supports hundreds more through contract farming and related supply chains.

Role of AFA and Farmer Cooperatives

Kagwe urged farmers to organise into strong cooperatives to boost collective marketing power and access credit facilities such as those offered by the Agricultural Finance Corporation. AFA’s Acting Director General, Calistus Kundu, confirmed plans to establish a dedicated support structure for the bixa sub-sector to coordinate seed distribution, farmer registration, extension services, and market development.

This government-led initiative aims not only to increase production but also to integrate more farmers into a profitable bixa value chain, thereby enhancing rural livelihoods and economic growth.