Taveta: Banana farmers in Taveta have historically faced deep challenges with their crops, often seeing them rot on the stem or sold at minimal prices to middlemen. Without reliable markets, insufficient infrastructure, and access to quality seedlings, many farmers abandoned their fields, leaving once-fertile land idle and families trapped in poverty.
According to Kenya News Agency, the situation has changed with the close-out of the Danida Market Development Partnership (DMDP) programme. This initiative, celebrated by farmers, government officials, and development partners, has transformed the fortunes of over 2,000 smallholder farmers, making Taita Taveta a prominent banana-growing region in Kenya.
Rose Dawa, a farmer from Kitobo, reminisced about the past struggles, highlighting the lack of structured markets which left farmers at the mercy of brokers. Penina Mshabaha, a lead farmer, added that reliance on traditional, disease-prone banana varieties further exacerbated the situation.
The DMDP programme, initiated by the Micro-Enterprise Support Programme Trust (MESPT) with partners including DANIDA, Orana A/S, and Wanda Agriculture Group, aimed to revitalize the banana farming sector in Taita Taveta County. By 2020, the programme introduced quality planting materials, distributing over 476,035 tissue culture seedlings. This effort led to significant improvements in yields and reduced post-harvest losses.
Emmanuel Lomwatu, a local nursery operator, credited the programme with enabling him to produce certified seedlings. Additionally, an innovative credit-based model was introduced, allowing farmers to acquire seedlings on credit, payable after harvest.
Training on Good Agricultural Practices and Climate-Smart Agriculture resulted in increased adoption, with yields rising by 27 percent and post-harvest losses dropping by 85 percent. Farmers, like Dawa, witnessed substantial improvements in their livelihoods, with household incomes rising significantly.
A notable achievement was the creation of Africa's first organic banana cooperative, inspired by MESPT CEO Rebecca Amukhoye. This initiative allowed Taveta to produce organic bananas, meeting global demand and securing a premium export deal until 2034.
The programme's comprehensive approach improved the entire value chain, with the Taita Taveta Banana Cooperative increasing weekly aggregation from 20 to 48 metric tons. Rozina Mrutu, the cooperative's Vice Chair, emphasized their role in training farmers and ensuring fair market prices.
In total, 2,197 farmers were connected to commercial buyers, achieving 97 percent of the project's targets. The initiative also generated employment, with a focus on women and youth, and promoted environmental sustainability through agroforestry practices.
Commercial partners heavily invested in circular economy innovations, achieving complete waste conversion at commercial farms. The efforts extended beyond production, training farmers on responsible business practices, thereby reducing child labor and other exploitative conditions.
Governor Andrew Mwadime praised the project for addressing unemployment and empowering youth through agriculture. The programme's legacy is a sustainable, thriving banana industry that has reshaped the economic landscape of Taveta.