June 15, 2009
Kenya raises import duty on wheat by 15 percent
The Kenyan government has raised import duty on wheat to 25 percent from 10 percent to protect local farmers from cheap imports, Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta said during his 2009-10 budget speech Thursday (June 11).
"We have witnessed an improvement in wheat production in the country and also a fall in wheat prices in the international market in the last one year," Uhuru said.
Kenya produces an estimated 3 million (90 kilograms) bags of wheat annually, while consumption is estimated at 9 million bags. The shortfall is imported.
