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Kagwe said some Kenyan millers had been hesitant to purchase maize from Uganda because of concerns over moisture content and aflatoxin levels, warning that increased trade would only work if grain quality was addressed.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned that the country could face a maize shortfall of 2.2 million tonnes this year, pushing the required imports to a record 2.3 million tonnes to keep households, millers and animal feed manufacturers supplied.
Under the new intervention, the government will meet 50% of the cost of certified maize seed, reducing the price from Sh300 to Sh150 per kilogramme, according to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.
Kenya consumes about 75 million bags of maize every year, but lower production in several food-producing areas is expected to leave the country with a deficit of nearly 25 million bags.
Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said the government was implementing measures to support farmers affected by dry conditions, prevent food shortages and keep prices of essential commodities stable.
The CS said maize imports will form part of the measures being used to protect food supplies, with the government looking to countries within the COMESA region for additional stocks.
The World Trade Organisation has identified Kenya among 18 economies that face the greatest risk from disruptions affecting nitrogenous fertiliser supplies passing through the Gulf region.
The Cost of Delay report, prepared by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), highlights that a five-year lag in commercializing Bt maize alone has deprived the country of $67 million (Sh8.7 billion). The losses stem from lower yields, higher pesticide expenses, and increased food prices that could have been avoided with timely adoption of biotechnology.