The County Government of Taita Taveta in partnership with Micro Enterprise Support Program has hinted on plans to export 700MT of organic bananas to Denmark, a deal that makes Taita Taveta county the first in the country to export the organic produce.
According to Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT), the joint project has identified 500 small holder farmers for the organic banana farming, with an aim of improving the market for produce hence reducing poverty levels in the county while promoting environmental conservation.
Through MESPT, a total of 126,000 organic tissue culture banana seedlings will be planted in the county, out of which 30,000 seedlings have already been issued to targeted farmers.
Danida Market Developments Program’s (DMDP) Manager Kuria Kung’u, says, “Apart from the current 500 farmers doing organic banana farming, we are also supporting other 1,500 farmers doing conventional banana farming in Taita Taveta county where we are targeting to support them with 600,000 tissue culture banana seedlings. Our target is to export 7000MT of organic bananas to ORANA, a Danish fruit company.”
The Taita Taveta County Agriculture Executive Committee Member Hon. Erickson Kyongo said governor Andrew Mwadime’s administration is cognizant of the need to invest in drainage works to bolster production by opening more land for farming, as well as improve road infrastructure for ease of market access.
We will soon ink a deal with ORANA Fresh Fruits Company to revive the stalled banana processing plant in Taveta, this might however be in vain if we won’t address the existing challenges including poor road infrastructure
He said
He added that plans to establish sanitary pads plant in Taveta using banana by products in Taveta sub county are at advanced stages, and that executive leadership from Kilifi and Taita Taveta have already held discussions.
Neils Osterberg, Director Orana said part of the plans to ensure the bananas meet the export standards include farmer training on post-harvest handling.
Simon Mwachia, one of the farmers doing organic farming in Taveta has called on youths in the county to embrace farming, noting, “This will not only promote food security in the country but also address the issue of unemployment among youths.”
Mwachia has also urged the national government together with the county government to expedite plans to provide adequate water for irrigation.
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