Kilimo General News

Finlays launches Trust to work with the local community.
James Finlay (Kenya) Limited has officially launched a Trust that seeks to empower communities and nurture

Agribusiness Engagement key to Poverty Reduction among Youth- shows study
With the increasing unemployment rate among the youth in Nigeria, development stakeholders believe that agriculture

Uganda rolls out FMD vaccines as Tumwebaze cautions on usage
Uganda Agriculture minister Hon Frank Tumwebaze has warned officials involved in the vaccination of cattle

Uganda & FAO to strengthen collaboration in the Agriculture Sector
Uganda Agriculture Minister Hon Frank Tumwebaze has rallied the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) to

Revitalizing the pyrethrum sub-sector
The National government in collaboration with the county governments targets to revitalize the pyrethrum crop

KTDA teas uptake at the auction improves
KTDA-managed factories sold 87% of all teas offered at the Mombasa Tea Auction on July

Government will support Soroti fruit factory to its full potential – Tumwebaze
Uganda Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Hon Frank Tumwebaze has promised to activate

Uganda to strengthen ties with Egypt through trade in Animals and Animal Products
Uganda and Egypt have committed to ramping up their cooperation in the beef industry. The

7 billion trees outside forests in Africa reported for the first time in a new data survey
A data collection and analysis initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the

State of the horticulture industry in Kenya
The Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) through the Horticulture Crops Directorate has released a report

11-year-old politicians’ daughter in love with beekeeping
Mombasa politician Suleiman Shahbals’ 11-year-old daughter Samira, recently surprised him when she told him that

President Kenyatta Unveils Shs 10bn Fisheries Project
President Uhuru Kenyatta today unveiled the Shs 10 billion Kenya Marine Fisheries Socio-Economic Development Project,

Tana River County receives first fully equipped land registry
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU)

I won’t tolerate corruption – Uganda’s new Agriculture Minister
The new Ugandan Agriculture Minister has vowed to deal with corruption as he took office.

Ethanol smuggler using maize arrested
Two traders have been intercepted while trying to smuggle 6200 litres of ethanol while concealed in maize and wheat bran bags. Stephen Njuguna Kironji, owner of goods and Kenneth Karanja Kimaku who was the driver of a motor vehicle registration number KCG 865K. The driver was arrested on 13th June 2021 in Kinangop area along Nakuru Nairobi Highway and the owner was arrested at Mugumu Police Station where the vehicle was detained. The customs duty of the goods is Kshs 2,571,924. The 30 drums of ethanol were concealed inside their Isuzu lorry using 46 bags of maize and 37 bags of wheat bran which were neatly arranged at the rear and side doors. Before their arrest, the two failed to produce importation documents, a licence or registration by KRA, and which are a requirement to import excisable goods such as ethanol. The suspects were charged with three counts relating to tax evasion on Tuesday 15th June 2021 before Engineers Law Court Resident Magistrate Hon Rawlings Musiega. They faced charges of; fraudulent evasion of payment of duty, importation of Excisable goods without a licence or being registered and that of conveying uncustomed goods. The charges are offences under various sections of the East African Community and Customs Management Act 2004, the Excise Duty Act No 23 of 2015 and Excise Duty (Excisable Goods Management System Regulations 2017. They denied the charges and were released on a bond of Kshs 300,000 and a surety or a cash bail of Ksh 150,000 each. In order to import excisable goods such as ethanol into Kenya, importers are required to pay customs duty for the

Opinion: Kenya is hurtling towards starvation on agricultural policy set by non-experts
By Okisegere Ojepat, CEO Fresh Produce Consortium Kenya It is hard to remember any decision

Veterinary training in Nakuru
Nakuru County is hosting the first cohort of 25 veterinary officers for a months training

A cup of tea… or cha?
Did you know that most of the world uses the same two words for tea?
Rice trader loses appeal
The Tax Appeals Tribunal (the Tribunal) has dismissed an Appeal filed by Jhulay LAL Commodities Ltd on grounds that the firm had failed to prove that Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) assessment was excessive.Jhulay LAL’s principal activity is the wholesale and retail sale of rice sourced from Pakistan. Jhulay LAL Commodities Ltd appealed the decision of KRA contesting that the entire tax of Kshs. 1,456,433,604.00 demanded. The main grounds of the appeal was that the Commissioner determined the taxable income on the basis of its gross bankings against the basic accounting principles and tax law.KRA successfully argued that it made the assessment after an investigation revealed several irregularities including unexplained bank deposits and that the sales of the rice exceeded the amounts imported.The Tribunal reviewed the evidence as presented by both parties and held that KRA exercised its powers judiciously to make the decision based on the material before it. The Tribunal held that the Jhulay LAL Commodities Ltd failed to prove that the assessment was excessive and dismissed the appeal.

Global demand for tea increased during the COVID-19 pandemic
Global demand for tea has seen a remarkable increase during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a

Opinion- Europe taking on the world to lockout agriculture
By Eric Kimunguyi In the months surrounding the birth of our own republic, from 1961

Partnering to educate farmers on soil testing
Soil testing is an important process for farmers who are serious about getting returns from

Farmers begin trading maize on Electronic Receipt System
Maize farmers from Tuiyotich KCEP – CBO in Mauche Ward, Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru County become

For this Karatina couple, agriculture is a solution to their bakery venture
By Kimuri Mwangi People venture into agriculture due to various reasons. Some out of passion,

Traders charged with smuggling 350 bags of maize into Kenya
Three businessmen have been charged before Busia Law courts Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Phoebe Kulecho with counts relating to smuggling of 350 bags of maize worth Kshs 800,000 in taxes. Joseph Kiprono and Mugisha Moses were charged both jointly while Issa Abuneri Ingati separately faced similar charges of being in possession of uncustomed goods contrary to section 200(d)iii as read with section 210 and 211 of the EACCMA,2004 and that of conveying uncustomed goods contrary to section 199 (b) as read with section 199(c|) EACCMA,2004. Joseph and Mugisha were intercepted by Adungosi Police Station Officers while transporting 200 bags of uncustomed maize worth Kshs 460,000 in taxes on 9th March this year at Among’ura- Amaase Murram road Teso South within Busia County. The accused persons denied the offences and were each released on bond of Kshs 200,000 or bail of Kshs 100,000. Their case will be heard on 6th May 2021 and mention on the 25th March 2021.

Cereal Millers Association raise a concern about aflatoxin
The Cereal Millers Association (CMA) in Kenya has raised concern on the increase in the

Rice farmers in Uganda praised
Rice farmers in Bugiri and Bugweri districts in Uganda have been praised for living up

Uganda develops new kiln for the fishing industry
Scientists at the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) in Uganda have come up with a

DCI nets stolen Kenya Seeds Company maize seeds worth over Kshs. 7 million
Detectives from the Serious Crimes Unit of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) yesterday recovered

Tea prices dip 13% as high volumes persist
Average tea prices for factories managed by Kenya Tea Development Agency have dropped by 13.3%