Posted on September, 6, 2024 at 12:49 am
Nakuru county government is promoting the cultivation of canola (rapeseed) and sunflower to reduce the import of edible oils.
The administration begun a campaign encouraging small holder farmers to take up oil crop cultivation whose huge unmet demand guarantees a ready local and international market.
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries executive Leonard Bor said Kenya has unmet demand for sunflower, canola, soya bean and linseed for both industrial and domestic needs.
He said although the oil crops are drought resistant and adaptable to many ecological zones, Kenya is currently producing less than 50 per cent of her needs.
“Kenya spends at least Sh160 billion annually to import edible oils from other countries mainly Southeast Asian countries. Governor Susan Kihika’s administration has embarked on canola and sunflower promotion project to boost local production of the oil crops and address the cost of edible oils in the country,” Bor said.
He added, “Kenyan manufacturers are grappling with huge deficits in production of Soya beans, canola, linseed and sunflower."
"Key players, who manufacture edible oils locally have resorted to importing Sunflower and Soya bean from Tanzania and Uganda to sustain processing demand.”
The executive said farmers can also process sunflower and canola seeds at household levels into cooking oil.
He spoke during a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum convened by the Agriculture and Food Authority on the production and extraction of nuts and oil from canola and sunflower crop.
Linseed which does not yield edible oil is used for industrial purposes.
Bor said the county government is determined to have farmers access quality oil crop seeds and enhance agriculture extension services for farmers towards increasing edible oil products.
He said the oil crops industries had the potential to create over 200,000 jobs in the county directly and indirectly through the establishment of cottage industries and production of livestock feed.
Under the initiative, the county government will coordinate the distribution of certified planting material to farmers.
It will also distribute subsidised fertiliser, provide market linkages and enhance value addition to boost farmers’ earnings.
According to data from the Nuts and Oil Crops Directorate under AFA, Kenya produces only 34 per cent of its edible oils and fat requirements.
The deficit is imported mainly from South Asian countries.
According to AFA, the country remains a net importer of vegetable oils as local production has not grown to meet local demand.
This is despite the fact that many oil seeds such as canola, sunflower, simsim, coconut and groundnuts can be grown and processed locally.
Source: The Star