Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has unveiled an ambitious plan to significantly increase Kenya’s bixa production and fully utilize the country’s 3,000-tonne annual processing capacity, a move expected to create thousands of jobs, expand exports and raise incomes for smallholder farmers along the Coast.
Speaking during a visit to Kenya Bixa Limited in Kwale County, Kagwe said the government, through the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) and in partnership with coastal county governments, will accelerate production by distributing certified seedlings, strengthening extension services, expanding farmer cooperatives and improving access to affordable financing.
The Cabinet Secretary said Kenya already has the processing infrastructure, export markets and internationally certified manufacturing standards required to compete globally, noting that the biggest challenge is increasing the supply of raw bixa from farmers.
At present, Kenya Bixa Limited processes between 1,000 and 1,400 tonnes of raw bixa annually despite having the capacity to process 3,000 tonnes every year. The factory receives its raw material from between 7,000 and 10,000 contracted smallholder farmers in Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties.
Kagwe said the government’s immediate priority is to bridge that production gap by expanding the number of farmers cultivating the crop and increasing acreage under bixa.
“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,” said Kagwe.
He said AFA will spearhead the distribution of certified seedlings and strengthen extension services to ensure farmers produce high-quality planting materials and increase productivity. As a scheduled crop, bixa will also benefit from enhanced regulation and coordinated support aimed at growing the subsector.
The expansion is expected to generate employment across the value chain, including seed multiplication, farm production, aggregation, transport, processing, logistics and exports, while increasing utilization of the country’s existing processing infrastructure.
The Kenya Bixa Limited factory currently employs about 150 people directly and supports hundreds more through contract farming, transport and supply chains. Officials say operating the factory at full capacity would substantially increase employment and stimulate economic activity across the Coast region.
According to production figures presented during the visit, one acre accommodates about 160 bixa trees planted at the recommended spacing of five metres by five metres. Each tree produces an average of 10 kilograms annually, translating to approximately 1,600 kilograms per acre.
At the current farm-gate price of KSh95 per kilogram, farmers can earn about KSh152,000 per acre every year, making bixa one of the region’s promising high-value commercial crops.
Unlike many perennial cash crops, bixa allows farmers to intercrop with maize, beans, pigeon peas, cassava, cowpeas and citrus fruits because of its wide spacing, enabling households to earn income while maintaining food production.
“The most important thing is to put money into farmers’ pockets. That is my job,” Kagwe said.
The Cabinet Secretary also directed farmers to form strong cooperatives to improve collective marketing, strengthen bargaining power and enhance access to affordable credit through the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and other financial institutions.
Agriculture and Food Authority Acting Director General Calistus Kundu said the authority has been directed to establish a dedicated support structure for the bixa subsector to coordinate seed distribution, farmer registration, extension services and market development.
Kenya Bixa Limited Managing Director Dr. David Kisa said the company has invested heavily in expanding processing capacity and meeting international quality standards, adding that the factory is ready to process significantly more produce once raw material supply increases.
Established in 1979 with a processing capacity of 250 tonnes, the company has expanded twelve-fold to its current annual capacity of 3,000 tonnes. It processes bixa into annatto natural food colours, bixin and norbixin which are supplied to domestic and international markets for use in dairy products, processed meat, confectionery, beverages, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
The company has also attained globally recognised certifications, including FSSC 22000 Version 6, ISO 9001:2015, Halal, Kosher, U.S. FDA compliance and the KEBS Diamond Mark, enabling it to serve premium export markets.
Author: Moureen Koech
Moureen Koech is a passionate Digital Journalist, an adept Agribusiness Writer with a keen eye for news and an impactful story-teller,whose stories provide key value to Agripreneurs and stakeholders in the Agricultural sector
