Nairobi: Bomet County Government has prioritized five agriculture value chains in a move aimed at helping farmers and area residents to reap maximum profits from their produce, besides creating job opportunities. Through the County Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives, the county government is set to facilitate the establishment of value addition-oriented programmes in the identified value chain clusters in the county, in collaboration with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).
According to Kenya News Agency, Chief Officer for Agriculture Dr. Kibet Sitienei, speaking at Boita in Konoin Sub-County, announced that stakeholder platforms drawn along the respective value chains have been formed and capacity building training has begun. The training is aimed at ensuring the overall success of the value chain by fulfilling the specific functions of production, distribution, marketing, and regulatory compliance.
Dr. Sitienei highlighted that the prioritized value chains include dairy, chicken, potatoes, pyrethrum, and avocado. The county government is encouraging farmers to continue engaging in agriculture and livestock production. To support the avocado value chain, the county is embarking on constructing a modern fresh avocado fruit pack-house. This initiative aims to strengthen the avocado value chain to maximize returns by tapping into local and export markets.
Dr. Sitienei emphasized that the five identified value chains for Bomet are expected to create direct sales incomes, employment opportunities, boost the transport sector, and enhance food security. He urged farmers to support the government's initiatives on value addition for their produce to ensure long-term success.
He expressed optimism about the avocado value chain, noting that Bomet is performing well in avocado production. Internationally, Kenya is carving a niche in the world market. Dr. Sitienei pointed out that Kenya's avocado export season, from July to March, does not compete with other leading producers like Peru, which enjoy an annual cycle. This situation necessitates support for farmers to produce and process quality products backed by cold storage facilities for export.
Dr. Sitienei acknowledged that agricultural producers face challenges such as lack of market access, perishability of products, and difficulty accessing farm implements. The county government is addressing these challenges through the value chains programme. Initiatives like the construction of the Sh180 million County Avocado pack-house and several dairy milk cooler facilities are significant steps towards alleviating these challenges.