The government has unveiled a plan to significantly expand Kenya’s bixa production by increasing the number of farmers growing the crop and supplying more raw material to the country’s only commercial processor.

Government Moves to Expand Kenya Bixa Production as Plan Targets 3,000-Tonne Processing Capacity

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the strategy during a visit to Kenya Bixa Limited in Kwale County, saying the initiative aims to fully utilize the country’s annual processing capacity of 3,000 tonnes while creating thousands of new jobs across the Coast region.

The programme will be implemented through the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) in collaboration with the county governments of Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu. It will focus on distributing certified seedlings, strengthening extension services, promoting farmer cooperatives and improving access to affordable agricultural financing.

According to Kagwe, Kenya already has the processing infrastructure, export markets and internationally certified manufacturing standards required to compete in the global bixa market. The main challenge facing the industry is inadequate production at farm level.

Factory Running Below Capacity

Kenya Bixa Limited currently processes between 1,000 and 1,400 tonnes of raw bixa every year despite having the capacity to process 3,000 tonnes annually.

The factory relies on produce supplied by between 7,000 and 10,000 contracted smallholder farmers drawn mainly from Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties.

Government officials say increasing production will enable the processor to utilize its installed capacity while opening opportunities for more farmers to join the value chain.

Since bixa is classified as a scheduled crop, AFA will oversee the expansion programme by regulating certified planting materials, coordinating farmer registration and strengthening extension support.

“This is not just about increasing production. It is about bringing more farmers into a profitable value chain, creating more jobs and putting more money into rural households,” Kagwe said.

Expansion Expected to Create More Jobs

The planned increase in production is expected to generate employment across the entire bixa value chain.

Apart from creating opportunities for growers, higher production is projected to increase demand for certified seed multiplication, crop aggregation, transport services, warehousing, processing, logistics and exports.

Kenya Bixa Limited currently employs about 150 people directly while supporting hundreds of additional jobs through contract farming arrangements and other supply chain activities. Officials believe operating the factory at full capacity will substantially increase employment opportunities across the Coast region.

Bixa Offers Strong Income Potential

Government figures presented during the visit indicate that bixa offers attractive returns for smallholder farmers.

An acre of land can accommodate about 160 trees planted at the recommended spacing of five metres by five metres. Each tree produces an average of 10 kilograms of seed annually, giving an estimated yield of about 1,600 kilograms per acre.

At the current farm-gate price of KSh95 per kilogram, a farmer can earn approximately KSh152,000 per acre each year.

Unlike many commercial crops that replace food production, bixa can be grown alongside other crops because of its relatively wide spacing.

Farmers are encouraged to intercrop bixa with maize, beans, pigeon peas, cassava, cowpeas and citrus fruits, allowing households to produce both food and cash crops from the same piece of land.

Kagwe said the approach enables farmers to diversify income while improving household food security.

“The most important thing is to put money into farmers’ pockets. That is my job,” he said.

Cooperatives and Financing to Support Growth

The Cabinet Secretary also called on growers to establish strong bixa cooperatives to improve collective marketing and strengthen their bargaining power.

He said organized farmer groups will also find it easier to access affordable credit from the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and other financial institutions to expand production.

Supporting the government’s strategy, Agriculture and Food Authority Acting Director General Calistus Kundu said AFA has been directed to establish a dedicated support framework for the bixa sub-sector.

The authority will coordinate certified seed distribution, farmer registration, extension services and market development as part of efforts to expand acreage and increase production.

Demand Already Exists

Unlike many emerging cash crops where markets remain uncertain, Kenya’s bixa industry already has an established processor and export market.

Officials say the immediate priority is increasing production so that processors can secure adequate raw materials throughout the year while enabling more farmers to benefit from the growing demand for the natural colourant crop.

If production increases as planned, the government expects the programme to strengthen farmer incomes, create new rural jobs and position bixa among Kenya’s leading high-value commercial crops.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Government-Moves-to-Expand-Kenya-Bixa-Production-as-Plan-Targets-3000-Tonne-Processing-Capacity-1024x683.jpeghttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Government-Moves-to-Expand-Kenya-Bixa-Production-as-Plan-Targets-3000-Tonne-Processing-Capacity-150x150.jpegFarmersTrendFarming Newsbixa production,Farmers Trend News,farming news kenyaThe government has unveiled a plan to significantly expand Kenya's bixa production by increasing the number of farmers growing the crop and supplying more raw material to the country's only commercial processor. Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced the strategy during a visit to Kenya Bixa Limited...New Generation Culture in Agriculture