market

: 10 August 2021; Hits: 1853

Reopened Isiolo airport provides export opportunity to fresh produce farmers

Isiolo International Airport

By George Munene

Isiolo, Meru, and Laikipia farmers will increase their fresh produce export by up to 11 per cent once the refurbished Isiolo International Airport becomes operational.

The airport has been fitted with cargo shades that will shield farmers' fresh produce from exposure to direct sunlight will begin accommodating cargo flights from January next year which will reduce the travel distance of produce to domestic and regional East African markets.

The counties which currently export just four per cent of their agricultural produce— mainly Miraa, pyrethrum, vegetables, and flowers— have never benefited from the airport, which was inaugurated in 2017.

"Small-scale farmers should embrace horticultural farming in readiness of the reopening of the airport to capitalise on their farm produce getting to a much larger market faster. This will lessen their exploitation at the hands of cartels who enrich themselves at their expense," stated Government Spokesman Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna while on a tour of the facility.

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: 09 August 2021; Hits: 1825

State constructing Lamu livestock pre-export zone to tap export market

livestock pre export zone

By George Munene

Kenya has begun construction of a livestock pre-export zone in Lamu County. The Sh 3 billion project will enable for processing of slaughtered livestock to suit the consumer-driven demands of traders. This value addition will also enable the exportation of animal products through the newly opened Lamu port and in turn, improve the incomes of livestock farmers in the region.

The Bar’goni Livestock Pre-Export Quarantine project will be sited in Lamu West and is slated for completion in June next year. It will contain livestock holding pens, livestock housing and feeding troughs, and disease-control veterinary fences as well as feed storage housing, mixing machinery, and a mini-lab.

"As construction work commences on the livestock pre-export zone we hope local livestock farmers, especially those in adjoining arid and semi-arid lands, will invest in the livestock sector to help improve their livelihoods", Harry Kimtai Principal Secretary State Department for Livestock said.

The quarantine facility is also useful in ensuring livestock commodities meet internationally set animal health handling standards.

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: 09 August 2021; Hits: 1994

Student founded app empowers farmers through market access & farming info

Ecosokoni

By George Munene

Founded by two engineering students in July 2020, ecoSokoni is a mobile marketplace app and resource center that seeks to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers as well as empowering farmers with information that helps improve their earnings.

For ecoSokoni's co-founder James Adera, a fifth-year University of Nairobi student the impetus behind the company's establishment was to enfranchise small-scale farmers by easing their access to markets and provide basic information that remains inaccessible to most of Kenya's over 4.5 million smallholder farmers.

"For most city dwellers the quantity of 20 bob worth of sukuma rarely changes, this is however not the case for the farmer. Despite the risks, middlemen often come out ahead by riding this market volatility," Adera said.

Through the app farmers and buyers are able to interact directly with no middlemen. Farmers also acquire valuable information on the best farming practices for various crops. EcoSokoni's farming magazine keeps up to date on what's abuzz in farming circles: what crops are fetching the best price for the season, emergent lucrative ventures in the agricultural space, etc.

The app also doubles as an online agrovet and shop for farm machinery.

EcoSokoni has also branched out to offering last-mile logistics by supplying hotels and eateries with bulk assorted produce and branded value pack food boxes to households. These consist of aggregated agri produce from farmers which are repackaged as value packs. "This can be a health pack that consists of an assortment of health forward food options such as ginger, lemon, turmeric; your everyday helping of foodstuff for a nine to five employee--some pishori rice, tomatoes, carrots, onions, capsicums, courgettes or even recipes for cooking fish for example accompanied by some tilapia and all the ingredients needed," said James.

ecoSokonii: +254 717 256565

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