INVESTORS from the US are planning to put up a mango-processing factory in Elgeyo Marakwet, Governor Alex Tolgos has said.
The county is a leading producer of fruits, with farmers earning an estimated Sh500 million from mangoes.
Speaking to the Star on the phone yesterday, Tolgos said value addition will enable the farmers increase their earnings.
“The investors have already carried out a feasibility study and we are in talks to ensure the project takes off soon,” he said.
The governor said the American investors, led by Daniel Knox, will set up the factory in Marakwet East subcounty.
He urged mango farmers in Kerio Valley to form cooperative societies to market their produce.
The governor said brokers take advantage of the farmers by buying their produce cheaply and reselling them at higher prices.
The brokers make huge profits when they sell the produce to major supermarkets in Eldoret, Nakuru, Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa, Tolgos said.
He said Kerio Valley is the leading producer of fruits in the North Rift, especially mangoes.
Farmers have not enjoyed the fruits of their hard work.
This is due to lack of markets for their produce, Tolgos said.
“Farmers really work hard to maintain high production but still they make losses because of being exploited by middlemen,” the governor said.
The county is working with experts to tackle diseases that affect mangoes.
Esther Kimani, the acting managing director of Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, visited some of the affected areas last week.
She was accompanied by Tolgos and Deputy Governor Gabriel Lagat.
Tolgos said the county will support farmers to form co-operative societies by offering technical advice, among other support programmes.
INVESTORS from the US are planning to put up a mango-processing factory in Elgeyo Marakwet, Governor Alex Tolgos has said.
The county is a leading producer of fruits, with farmers earning an estimated Sh500 million from mangoes.
Speaking to the Star on the phone yesterday, Tolgos said value addition will enable the farmers increase their earnings.
“The investors have already carried out a feasibility study and we are in talks to ensure the project takes off soon,” he said.
The governor said the American investors, led by Daniel Knox, will set up the factory in Marakwet East subcounty.
He urged mango farmers in Kerio Valley to form cooperative societies to market their produce.
The governor said brokers take advantage of the farmers by buying their produce cheaply and reselling them at higher prices.
The brokers make huge profits when they sell the produce to major supermarkets in Eldoret, Nakuru, Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa, Tolgos said.
He said Kerio Valley is the leading producer of fruits in the North Rift, especially mangoes.
Farmers have not enjoyed the fruits of their hard work.
This is due to lack of markets for their produce, Tolgos said.
“Farmers really work hard to maintain high production but still they make losses because of being exploited by middlemen,” the governor said.
The county is working with experts to tackle diseases that affect mangoes.
Esther Kimani, the acting managing director of Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, visited some of the affected areas last week.
She was accompanied by Tolgos and Deputy Governor Gabriel Lagat.
Tolgos said the county will support farmers to form co-operative societies by offering technical advice, among other support programmes.