In Makueni County, a new opportunity has emerged for mango farmers following the government's discovery of an international market. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, after a meeting with the Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat led by Augustine Cheruiyot, highlighted the focus on agricultural transformation, particularly in enhancing the value chain. This development is anticipated to elevate farmers' earnings and reduce mango wastage, thereby improving their livelihoods.
"This team has an investor on mango. They collected our samples from Kalamba Fruit factory and took it abroad to an investor outside Kenya. The only thing we need is to increase our production," Governor Mutula conveyed. With 78 percent of Makueni's population engaged in agriculture, these initiatives are expected to bolster food security and tackle unemployment among the youth.
Efforts to actualize these plans include coordination across relevant sectors and the establishment of cooperatives and aggregation centers. The national government, through Dr. Cheruiyot, expressed readiness to support the county, particularly in the mango value-added chain and livestock sector improvement. "We want Makueni County to become a center of excellence for mango production both for local and export market," Dr. Cheruiyot stated.
Source: kenyanews.go.ke