Kenya introduces new Bixa Regulations to guide a growing sector
The Agriculture and Food Authority has set new rules to support structured Bixa production across the country.
KENYA – Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has introduced the Crops (Bixa) Regulations 2025 in Mombasa County, creating a clear framework for one of Kenya’s unique cash crops.
The rules aim to support farmers, processors, and exporters through structured production, processing, marketing, licensing, and traceability.
AFA Director General Dr. Bruno Linyiru said the rules will close long-standing gaps in the Bixa sub-sector. “The new regulations will formalize and streamline Kenya’s Bixa sub-sector, address gaps in standardized production, processing, marketing, licensing and traceability,” he said.
He explained that the rules will strengthen protection for smallholder farmers, encourage investment, and support value addition in line with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Dr. Linyiru called on growers and other players to support the new framework. “I urge all stakeholders to embrace the regulations and ensure full compliance so that Kenya can stand out as a global leader in Bixa production,” he said.
Officials at the event included AFA Board Director Daniel Kitivo, MPFICD Director Grace Kyallo, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, county officials, and farmers. The legal document remains available for public access.
High court ruling supports seed rights
While the Bixa industry welcomed new structure, farmers also received major news from the courts this week. Kenya’s High Court has rejected key parts of the 2012 Seed and Plant Varieties Act, which had blocked farmers from saving and exchanging uncertified seeds.
The decision now gives smallholders full freedom to save, share, and sell indigenous seeds without fear of fines or imprisonment.
The case, heard at the Machakos High Court on 27 November 2025, challenged sections of the law that introduced strict penalties. Farmers argued that these rules supported commercial seed companies while harming long-standing practices that keep rural households secure during dry seasons.
The court ruled that the contested sections violated the Constitution. Judges stated that seed saving and sharing form part of Kenya’s cultural identity and support the right to food and survival. The ruling protects diverse local seed varieties that help communities adapt to water stress and heat.
Civil society groups including Greenpeace Africa, Seed Savers Network, and the Biodiversity and Biosafety Association of Kenya welcomed the judgment. They described it as a clear win for food sovereignty and rural autonomy.
As the Bixa industry moves into a more structured phase and farmers regain long-standing seed rights, the agricultural sector prepares for stronger community-driven growth.
Be the first to leave a comment