Farmers of mung beans (locally known as ndegu), and cocoyam must now register with the State as the country makes significant steps to capitalise on the growing global demand for the crop to boost exports and economic growth.

This after the government officially designated them as scheduled crops, a move meant to unlock various benefits for farmers and the agricultural sector, by tightening monitoring the value chain from farm to folk is certain.

By diversifying its agricultural exports, Kenya can reduce its reliance on traditional commodities like coffee and tea will create new opportunities for sustainable development for the country.

Scheduled crops

Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja (pictured), in a recent gazette notice, declared the two crops scheduled crops under part three of the first schedule of the crops act.

“In exercise of the powers conferred under section 7 (2) of the Crops Act, 2013, the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Livestock Development declares Mung Bean (Vigna radiata (L.) and Cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) as scheduled Crops under Part 3 of the First Schedule of the Crops Act,” the notice read.

The Act ensures that these crops are grown, processed, and marketed to maintain quality, support farmers, improve the investment climate, enhance the efficiency of agribusiness, and developing agricultural crops for export and boost economic development.

According to the notice, Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) shall make sure of the registration of mung bean farmers, dealers and associations, certification of processing plants, warehouses, collection centres and markets where mung bean and cocoyam are traded and the issuance of export and import clearance permits.

The authority shall also take care of the assurance of the safety and quality of the said crops, their marketing, promotion and the collection, collating and maintaining of a database on the production, prices and trade in Mung beans and cocoyam.

Under Section 8 of the Crop Act 2013, scheduled crops benefit in a number of ways including, marketing and distribution, provision of an efficient and regular transportation, promotion and advise on strategies for value addition prior to the export of crops from Kenya.

Other benefits also include recommendations of general industry agreements between farmers and processors of scheduled crops and prescription of the minimum period within which farmers are to be paid for crops delivered and penalties for delayed payments.

In 2023, Kenya saw a 70 per cent increase in the exports of dried mung beans, reaching 8.7 million kilograms generation approximately $6.85 million (Sh2.9 billion), signalling an increase in demand. The growth highlighted the expansion of the mung beans markets, especially in the United Arab Emirates.