The Kenyan government, through the Agriculture and Food Authority [AFA], plans to open a hot water treatment facility in Nairobi. According to Agriculture CS Peter Munya, the facility will boost exports of Kenya’s horticulture products to international markets.
Munya said the hot water treatment plant is a viable intervention for the fruit fly issue and by establishing this facility, Kenya will not only increase mango quality and value but will also be able to enter other lucrative markets. According to him, the fruit fly had been a challenge even forcing the country to enact a self-imposed ban on mango exports in 2015.
Munya noted that after a series of successful interventions, including the establishment of pest free areas and areas of low pest preference in select counties, Kenya was able to ship its first mango consignment to Italy in 2021 since the self-ban was effected.
Data from the Horticulture and Crops Directorate (HCD) shows that the total value of horticultural produce exported in 2021 increased by 5.1 percent.
Source: the-star.co.ke