The Miraa Pyrethrum Fibre and Other Industrial Crops Directorate is mandated to develop, promote, and regulate industrial crops such as Bixa and Cacao. These emerging value chains hold great potential to enhance Kenya’s economy by generating income for local communities and contributing to foreign exchange earnings. In addition, both crops foster value addition, rural employment, and climate-resilient farming, in line with the Agriculture and Food Authority’s objective of promoting agricultural diversification and advancing Kenya’s industrial and economic growth.
Bixa
Bixa (Bixa orellana L.) is a perennial shrub commercially known as ‘Annatto’ and locally known as ‘mrangi’. It grows to a maximum height of 5 metres with single or multiple stems. Its main product is bixin which is a red pigment that is present in a thin pulp layer covering the seed in a pod. Bixin is an organic dye with high solubility in lipids that makes it ideal for wide use in food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical. Its market share for natural food colour is increasing with people’s preference shifting towards organic products. It contributes about 70 percent of the world’s natural dyes. The crop was introduced in Kenya from Brazil in the early 1960s, and it does well in the coastal region.
Cacao
Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is globally recognized as the primary raw material for chocolate production and serves as a vital source of income for millions of smallholder farmers worldwide. Although Kenya has not traditionally been a major cocoa producer like West African nations such as Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, interest in cacao cultivation is steadily increasing, particularly in the coastal and western regions where agro-climatic conditions are favorable. Cocoa has been identified as a promising crop in parts of the Coast, Western, and Nyanza regions due to these conducive environmental factors. Beyond its use in food products for its rich flavour, such as in chocolate and baked goods, cocoa is also valued for its medicinal properties, including potential benefits for heart health, blood circulation, and mood enhancement. Additionally, it is widely used in the cosmetic industry as a key ingredient in moisturizers, lotions, and other skincare products.
