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: 06 July 2021; Hits: 2168

Kenya introduces Mark of Quality for local vegetables and fruits

Mark of Quality KS1758

By George Munene

Kenya has introduced a Mark of Quality, 'KS1758’ Code of Practice for locally traded horticultural produce. This is meant to improve the quality and efficacy of domestically consumed vegetables and fruits.

At its unveiling, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Peter Munya said the quality mark will also help farmers earn a premium from supermarkets and other retail stores as local consumers have become more aware of the potential hazards of consuming unsafe food. At the same time, the capacity of counties to reach support farmers adhering to these safety regulations will be enhanced. Local governments will also invest in farmer support services such as testing, capacity building, and certification.

The Government is looking to have this 'KS1758’ adopted as the national standard. To this end, it is working with the Retail Traders Association of Kenya and other private sector players to have supermarkets and other large horticultural retail outlets have their agri-produce suppliers adopt the Mark of Quality.

He pointed out that while the value of horticulture consumed in Kenya has been rising; from being worth Sh209 billion in 2015 to Sh268 billion in 2019; little focus has been placed on ensuring this produce is safe and anywhere near the quality standards demanded by international markets which consume only four per cent of the horticulture produced by the country.

“Most of the focus has been placed on food security and little on produce, quality, and safety. The quality mark will not only enhance market access by addressing pesticide residue challenges and harmful organisms but also protect consumer health”, Munya added.

A Kenyan first, ‘KS1758’ Code of Practice has been developed with support from the Rockefeller Foundation and a collaborative effort by the Retail Traders Association of Kenya, Horticultural Crops Development Authority, and the Standards Implementation Committee.

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: 06 July 2021; Hits: 2062

Coffee farmers to earn more with increased participation in its trade

National Coffee Revitalization Progress Report

By George Munene

Speaking on Monday at the National Coffee Revitalization Progress Report, Agriculture Cabinet secretary Peter Munya said farmers will now have discretion in the processing, trading, and selling of coffee beans with the passage of the Coffee Bill 2021

At the meeting held in Nairobi, Munya identified marketing agents, doubling as coffee buyers, as some of the main culprits who contribute to poor returns gotten by coffee cultivators. Per the bill, this practice, he said, will be made illegal curbing farmer exploitation as it prohibits factory management from using farmers’ assets as collateral when taking loans.

According to the report, in the year 2019-2020, Kenya exported 46,333 metric tons of green coffee beans, earning it Sh22 billion.

While Kenya’s coffee fetched some of the best prices internationally, the payment gotten for the cherry for farmers continues to decline. This is partly responsible for the 30 per cent decline in coffee cultivated area, from 170,000 hectares in the early 1990s to 119,000 hectares in 2020. From a production peak of 129,000 metric tons in 1983-84, the crop's output has seen a 70 per cent decline to just 40,000 metric tons in 2020.

The proposed Coffee Bill 2020 further outlaws millers and marketing agents from lending to farmers. This will now be the charge of the Sh3 billion Cherry Advance Revolving Fund which was approved by Kenya's Cabinet and will offer coffee farmers loans at a more affordable 3 percent interest. Coffee society deductions from the proceeds of sales will also be capped at 5 per cent.

“We intend to reform the sub-sector by improving efficiency, performance and profitability to farmers and increasing international sales of products,” Munya said

At the meeting, David Njogu, Coordinator of The Coffee Revitalization Project, stated that recruitment of a service provider who will engage youth trained in agriculture to offer extension services to farmers is underway. “This will help disseminate technologies which are essential for modern coffee production to our farmers,” he said.

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: 05 July 2021; Hits: 2555

Kenya Dairy Board 2021 study shows dairy farming remains profitable

cost of milk production in Kenya

By George Munene

According to a 2021 study on the cost of milk production in Kenya commissioned by Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) dairy farming remains one of the country’s more profitable agricultural ventures.

According to data collated by the study’s rapporteur The Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development (TIAPD), on average, major milk processors bought milk for Sh35 in 2019, while the cost of production ranged from Sh17-27. Gross revenue earned from milk production also improved by three per cent over the last five years.

Intensive dairy production systems such as zero grazing had the highest gross revenue, Sh35.87, marginally better than semi-zero grazing, Sh37.27. Extensive farming, i.e, open field grazing, earned a total income of Sh31. However factoring in the costs of production intensive dairy enterprise had a lower whole profit, Sh10.3 a liter to Sh18.43 accrued from semi-zero grazing and Sh19.74 gotten from open field rearing.

Feeds and labour accounted for most of the cost of production at 85 per cent. Feeding zero grazed cattle accounted for 55 per cent of farmer’s cost, this was 45 per cent for open grazed cattle cattle and 37 per cent for those that were semi zero grazed.

Conversely, semi zero grazed cattle consumed the most in labour costs, 48 per cent, while zero grazed cattle consumed the least at just 33 per cent.

The report also showed that a majority of farmers have embraced intensive systems of production. Intensive dairy farming was most practiced by farmers in Meru, Nyeri, Muranga, Taita Taveta, Embu, Kiambu, Nakuru and Machakos. Open field grazing was common in Narok and Uasin Gishu counties.

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