Banana production in Taveta subcounty has nearly doubled from 2,080 acres in 2017 to about 4,104 acres, with yields of up to 65,280 tonnes.
Lusike Wasilwa, a researcher at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, said Taita Taveta county is now the second leading banana producer countrywide.
The county's more than 6,000 farmers have recorded an increment in productivity from five per cent in 2018 to 9.7 per cent last year. Meru county still leads in production with a 23.6 per cent productivity.
Taveta farmers have been raising banana acreage ahead of the operationalisation of the Taveta Banana Processing Plant.
The Danish International Development Agency has initiated a market development partnership to bring farmers and banana buyers together for a sustainable market.
Danish Ambassador Ole Thonke said Denmark is committed to supporting the programme to deliver Sustainable Development Goals eight and 17 on decent work and economic growth and partnerships for sustainable development respectively.
Increased production, Thonke said, will only benefit farmers if better markets are created for them to sell their produce at fair prices.
"We shall closely work with other stakeholders to ensure an increase in agricultural productivity, access to markets and create over 470 decent jobs to locals," he said.
Farmers are also banking on the cross-border trade with neighbouring Tanzania through the Taveta Holili One-Stop Border Post.
Speaking during the official launch of the project at Mukine Village in Taveta, Deputy Governor Majala Mlagui said that the banana crop is grown by over 17,000 households in the county for subsistence and commercial use.
She added that the county has signed a partnership with Micro Enterprise Support Programme Trust to support banana farmers and develop the banana sector in order to enhance competitiveness under the Danish-funded programme.
Majala said completion of the banana processing plant will expand the horticultural crop's market and create over 800 jobs.
Once completed, the industry will process eight tonnes in a day and it is expected to grow the economy by Sh7 billion.
The Sh110 million European Union-funded plant, Majala said, is aimed at boosting the value addition chain of banana production and food security in the arid and semi-arid areas of the county. The farmers have been counting losses for lack of a stable market.
She said the market project will empower the locals and promote the production of the superior banana variety called Grand Nain.
