Agriculture

Makueni mango farmers’ representatives and buyers came together on Thursday to prepare for the upcoming mango marketing season. The meeting, organized by the county agriculture department aimed to establish clear purchasing guidelines for mangoes from local farmers.

During the discussions, buyers shared their planned purchase quantities and price ranges, offering between Ksh. 12 and 25 per kilogram of mangoes. The prices will vary, with local markets receiving the lowest rates and exporters providing the highest.

Attending the meeting, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development CECM Joyce Mutua urged farmers to hold firm and avoid selling their mangoes at low prices. “Our department is dedicated to ensuring that farmers receive fair value for their hard work,” she emphasized.

She added, “This collaboration between farmers and buyers is expected to strengthen the mango industry in Makueni, benefiting all stakeholders involved.”

Ms. Mutua was accompanied by Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyalo.

Makueni County is poised to gain significantly in agricultural education with the proposed establishment of a Kenya School of Agriculture campus at Kwa-Kathoka.

This is following a public participation meeting held on Monday by stakeholders drawn from Agricultural, Administrative, Business and Education sectors to discuss the project, which will be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

The campus will offer diploma programs and skill-based short courses, designed specifically to meet the needs of local farmers and the regional economy.

Speaking during the forum, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development Joyce Mutua emphasized the positive impact on farmers’ skills and local job opportunities that will be created upon establishment of the institution.

The Makueni campus is part of a national plan to expand agricultural education, with four additional campuses slated for Busia, Meru, Kericho, and Kilifi counties.

The meeting featured contributions from various stakeholders including Eng. Gordon Nyakiti from the Kenya School of Agriculture, Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyalo and Majority Leader Hon. Kisungi Wa Katete. They were joined by County Assembly members Hon. Francis Mutuku and Hon. Elizabeth Kawembe, all of whom voiced their strong support for the establishment of the new campus.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Sunday officially launched the ready-to-drink Kalamba fruit juice during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Matiliku, Makueni Sub-County.

Governor Kilonzo announced that the County will continue to sell mango puree locally and for export, while the remaining produce will be processed into ready-to-drink juice.

Agriculture County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Joyce Mutua disclosed that the Kalamba production line has been linked to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamp duty system, and the final product has received full certification from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

She said the County has implemented a quality assurance program to ensure consistent product quality. Additionally, a distribution point for the juice has been established at Green Park, Wote, with plans to stock it in supermarkets and various points of sale soon.

Mutua further noted that the County has identified value-chain champions in every Ward to support mango farmers by facilitating the off-take of their produce at designated aggregation centres.

To regulate the mango trade, all mango buyers in Makueni will now be required to obtain a movement permit, in addition to paying cess, to ensure fair distribution of trade across all areas.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has distributed 9.7 tons of certified maize seeds to farmers in Kilungu ward during a working tour of Kaiti Sub-county on Thursday.

Mutula said his administration is keen on maximising food production through growing the appropriate variety of crops in the wake of projected depressed October-November-December rains.

Mutula also inspected the construction progress of Ilovoto water project, which will benefit more than 3,300 residents of Kilungu ward when complete.

Governor Mutula is accompanied by a number of MCAs among them Assembly Deputy Majority Leader Jonathan Muthoka, deputy minority leader Sarah Mbilo, Eng. Jackson Ndolo (Ukia) and Kilungu MCA Joseph Mbidnyo.

Makueni County on Wednesday received a donation of pest control technologies from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KePHIS) aimed at helping small-scale mango farmers to effectively manage fruit fly infestations.

The donation includes 1,800 pheromone lures to eliminate Oriental fruit flies, 1,000 protein baits, 900 solarization bags, and 45 augmentorium pit covers to promote better farm sanitation.

These advanced pest control tools are designed to tackle the challenges of pests in mango farming, ensuring compliance with export market standards and improving the competitiveness and credibility of Makueni’s mango products. This initiative will help restore the confidence of international buyers in the county’s produce.

Agriculture CECM Joyce Mutua, who received the donation, was flanked by Japheth Kiminza, the Chief Officer for Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development.

Mutua expressed her appreciation to KePHIS, affirming that her department would ensure the technologies are distributed efficiently and used properly by farmers to maximize their impact.

Over 6,000 registered farmers across Makueni County will receive sunflower seeds for planting during the October-November- December season.

On Friday Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. flagged off 14,121 kgs of sunflower seeds and will be distributed to the farmers.

The initiative is courtesy of the Edible Oil Promotion Project (EOPP), a national government program by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).

The project aims to reduce the country’s reliance on imported edible oil and enhance local communities’ nutritional needs. Makueni County leads the nation in farmer registration for this project.

Governor Mutula said AFA has committed to supplying sunflower oil extraction machines to the county.

He encouraged more farmers to enroll in the program and take advantage of sunflower’s drought-resistant nature, turning it into a profitable venture through edible oil production.

CECM Agriculture Joyce Mutua advised farmers to buy certified seeds to ensure better yields and minimize potential losses during the upcoming rainy season.