Bomachoge: Farmers in the country have an opportunity to understand a certification process that allows them to explore market access for their produce.
According to Kenya News Agency, this initiative is thanks to Control Union of Kenya, an internationally operational certification body that carries out inspections, lab testing, and certification for agricultural produce. Speaking recently during a training to avocado farmers in Bomachoge, Borabu in Kisii County, the Managing Director of Control Union, Kenya, James Mureithi emphasized their focus on sustainable agriculture. He shared insights on certification, sustainability, and market opportunities for farmers, aiming to empower them to thrive in global markets.
"As a certification body, Control Union is involved in checking the compliance. We check if the farms, producers, and exporters are complying with specific market requirements. Basically, here in Kenya, we mostly focus on global gap for fresh fruits and vegetables," Mureithi stated. He confirmed that there is a high demand for organic certification, and thus they have been visiting production locations to check compliance with the requirements of the standards. Once compliance is ascertained, farmers receive a certificate enabling access to the export market.
Mureithi explained that certification acts as a bridge to access both export and domestic markets. Certifications like Sh1758, the agricultural practice standard for the local market, were highlighted. He noted that they have adapted their approach by reaching out to farmers through a programme dubbed 'Control Union Mashinani', providing training and information directly to farmers at the farm level.
He added that certification ensures market access, better buyers and prices, and direct interaction with markets, eliminating middlemen. Mureithi highlighted the growing demand for avocados, describing them as "the green gold of Kenya and Africa," and called for collaboration between national and county governments and stakeholders to provide farmers with quality seeds and knowledge.
Joel Ongangi, an avocado farmer from Bomachoge, shared his experience, noting the training's timely arrival. Having planted 1,000 avocado trees, Ongangi expressed his intent to shift to organic farming and leverage the knowledge gained from the training to improve his practices and market access.
Evans Nyakoni, the Founder of Riaima Empowerment Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (RECSA), acknowledged the training's impact and emphasized the potential of Kisii's fertile soil. He highlighted the importance of skills and good agricultural practices for sustainable crop production and pledged RECSA's support in linking markets and promoting community collaboration.
In Kenya, sustainable agriculture certification involves adhering to global standards like GLOBALG.A.P. and organic certification. The government has been promoting sustainable agriculture through policies such as the Agricultural Policy 2021 and the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy, alongside specialized standards like Kenya Standard 1758 for food safety and good practices.