Mwingi Horticulture Farmers’ Cooperative Society is transforming the livelihoods of Mango farmers in Kitui County through the value addition of the fruit.
The Society, with the help of USAID, has embarked on processing and preservation of the mangoes using modern Solar Technology to reduce post-harvest waste in efforts to ensure a continuous fruit supply chain during the mango season.
The USAID helped the society buy two solar power technology driers for processing mangoes and other locally produced fruits and vegetables.
According to the society Chairman Sammy Mwanthi Kibwana, local farmers incurred massive waste of mango produce before the formation of the society 15 years ago but in 2017, the Kitui County government in partnership with the USAID donated and installed the solar power technology Fruit Processing Plant to the society, aimed at helping the local mango farmers in reducing post-harvest losses of the fruit.
Kitui County leads in mango production in the country but huge amounts of the fruit usually get wasted during post-harvest, said the Society chairman while speaking today at the plant.
Mwanthi, the chairperson of the 70 member’s society further lamented the low processing capacity of the solar technology processing plant and appealed to national and county governments, USAID as well as other donors and development partners to support the society by donating more solar driers to processing capacity.
“With the establishment of this fruit processing plant and reduced wastage of the mangoes in post-harvest, over 1000 local farmers and residents highly benefit with their livelihood improved” the chairman added.
The society chairman underscored that the Sh8 million solar plant has created and provided employment and job opportunities to local farmers and residents who own a stake and grow wealth, learn new technologies, and learn about value addition to increase farm incomes. Our farmers are the primary stakeholders of the plant.
Government authorities and Department are involved with the enhancement of the quality of our fruits, control of the fruit fly, and farmer education to ensure the fruits processed in the plant are compliant with high standards of KEBS and as well international health requirements.
A supervisor at the Mwingi Horticulture Farmers’ Cooperative Society’s solar power technology plant, Madam Christine Musyoka, said the plant processes not only mangoes but also several other fruits, including pawpaws, bananas, cowpea leaves, and different products.
According to the plant supervisor, several products are produced upon the processing of the different fruits. However, the vegetables are only dried for preservation for use.
“Different products are produced after processing of the fruits, and common products are processed are fruits flakes, juice, jam, aches masala, and flavors. They are all packaged and sold to local markets in the country,” said Christine.
Christine noted that the products are packed in several amounts with selling at different prices and can stay up to two years before they expire.
Kitui County government director of special programs, Madam Redemptory Mary, while speaking to the media, affirmed the county government’s continued support for society, noting the County Governor, Dr Julius Malombe,’s fulfillment of his manifesto of economic empowerment of women in the county.
