Feed demand to push corn consumption in Kenya higher

Dairy and poultry producers, allegedly the largest feed consumers, are expected to increase their corn purchases to help meet rising consumer demand.

Most farmed animal rations produced in Kenya comprise 60 to 80% of corn.

The east African country is expected to remain a net importer for corn, wheat, and rice; in recent years, the government has become concerned about the rising costs and sustainable supply of corn in the future, with it undertaking initiatives to encourage consumers and feed manufacturers to seek alternatives to the principal feed component.

Feed manufacturers have been exploring alternative lower cost, sustainable supply ingredients, such as sorghum and distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGs). “So far, these efforts have had minimal results.”​

The USDA estimates that domestic corn production for the next year will remain at the 4m MT mark due to good weather, steady demand, and stable prices. In MY 2020/21, Kenya reached record production in that commodity despite COVID19 disruptions.

The country's corn sector, however, tends to suffer from high post-harvest loss, estimated at 30 to 40% per year, noted the USDA publication. Kenya's National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and the private industry are unable to preserve supplies due to inadequate storage capacity on farm and in other community holdings.

Meanwhile, the use of feed wheat in farmed animal diets in Kenya is also expected to see an uptake in the coming year. Sources told the USDA team that feed wheat usage is projected to increase by 30,000 MT in marketing year (MY) 2021/22.