Farmers and traders from the banana rich regions of Kisii have called for a proper regime to help manage the crop yields.
They lamented of poor infrastructures as the new banana processing plant at the Agricultural Training Centre begins operations.
"Even as we appreciate the factory, farmers must challenge the lack of a proper regulations to manage the harvests," James Kenani, a farmer.
He queried the absence of collection centres in Nyaribari yet it is a flourishing banana belt.
Farmers sell their produce to brokers from Nairobi at throw away prices. They are without stalls and get crashed as they scramble for customers on buses.
"It does not require rocket science to know which parts of the county produces more, from Kisii town to Keroka you would be amazed by the determination of our people to grow their economy," Kenani said.
"The banana heads are in their hundreds at Keumbu, Birongo and Gianchere."
Kenani spoke on Thursday at the Banana Resort.
At least 6,350 hectare are under bananas cultivation in Kisii with an average production of 56 tonnes per hectare, annually.
This translates to 359,600 tonnes of the crop yield annually.
Earlier, some farmers weary of exploitation from brokers cut down their bananas for other crop varieties.
Some, now buoyed by the new factory have begun replanting to capitalise on the opportunity.
Currently, there are two cooling centre at their disposal. The farmers, however, claim they were not consulted about the cooling plants.
One plant was set up at Kiamokama by the government while an additional unit was erected by donor funding at Nyamache in Bobasi.
The farmers argue that both cooling plants are located far from their farms.
"We anticipate to hear of additional transportation costs, this would deal a blow on us. Farmers expected cooling plants should be established with them in mind not politics," Kenani said.
He said there had been no training done on new varieties required to sustain operations of the new plant.
"My people here said they have not received any training or even got any supply of suckers," he said.
Farmers in Keumbu which is 10 kilometres from the factory have questioned why they should transport their produce to Nyamache which is 25 kilometres out of Kisii town before it is hauled back to the processing plant.
"As a farmer I hurt the most. The factory should directly collect from us rather than expecting us to deliver the produce to cooling centres at our own cost," Job Kebaso, a trader said.
He also said payment should be encouraging and be made upfront.
"Any delays on payment wont go well with most of us, who are peasant," he said.
The farmers also urged the county to explain what affected plans to set up a market in Keumbu.
"All we saw was a plan and the rest is history. Everyday we get sunbaked or rained on by the roadside as we wait for the proposed market," Kebaso said.
He said a replica of the market structure they saw in the plan was allegedly constructed in Nyakoe, Kitutu Chache South.
" Go there and see for yourself, it is a complete betrayal of trust by those charged with such responsibilities. Sometimes it is a waste of time to vote," Bosire Nyambane, a trader said.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
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