In Migori County, in the southwest of Kenya, the Getong’anya sweet potato processing factory’s gates have remained closed since it was commissioned in March.
“It has remained closed and we have been left in the hands of middlemen who are harassing us,” said Samson Wankuru, the manager of Kuria West Sweet Potato Sacco.
One local sweet potato farmer said he has now been forced to sell his produce for as low as Sh1,800 for two sacks. He claims that the middlemen would insist on taking only medium-sized tubers hence getting a loss. The farmers lamented that despite getting quality sweet potato vines which mature for only three months, they are yet to see the benefit of sweet potato farming. According to the farmers, the plant has now become a centre where “officials come with cameras and close the door”.
The factory located at Kuria West Sub-County and can process over 100 tons of sweet potatoes daily is a collaboration between the European Union and the county government where they contributed Sh110m and Sh7.07m respectively.
The plant was to employ 300 people directly and another 5,000 indirectly, which has yet to be achieved.
[ Sh100 = €0.77 ]
Source: standardmedia.co.ke
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