News

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮: 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝐧𝐝, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 ~ Horticulture, particularly mango production, remains a noble livelihood and a key economic driver for thousands of farmers in Makueni County.

The County Department of Agriculture on Friday concluded a two-day sensitisation forum aimed at strengthening mango marketing, securing better prices and reducing post-harvest losses.

The forum brought together Administration and Agriculture Officers from Kilome, Kibwezi West and Kibwezi East Sub-Counties to develop a coordinated approach to mango offtake ahead of the forthcoming season.

Speaking to the officers, Agriculture Chief Officer Kinns Mwania urged them to take the lead in mobilising farmers to form and join structured groups and cooperatives, describing organised farmer networks as key to unlocking better markets and fairer returns.

He noted that collective marketing would strengthen farmers’ bargaining power, improve their ability to negotiate competitive prices and create stronger linkages with reliable buyers, while reducing exploitation and other challenges along the mango value chain.

The forum also agreed on establishing ward-based committees to enhance coordination, communication and market linkages.

With mangoes in parts of Kibwezi available during the off-season, officers were urged walk the journey with farmers and connect them with reliable buyers and offtakers for better returns.

𝐖𝐨𝐭𝐞, 𝟑𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔- The County Government of Makueni is seeking new market opportunities for farmers engaged in organic mango production, with efforts underway to link them to markets in the United States.

County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, Japheth Mang’oka, said the County is engaging the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) to map farmers already practising organic farming and establish a structured system that brings farmers, processors and offtakers together.

The discussions also aim to encourage more farmers to transition from conventional to organic mango production while ensuring compliance with the required organic management standards and certification requirements.

EPZA, led by General Manager for Operations and Investor Support Alice Atogo, has identified Freeze Dry as a potential offtaker. The company is willing to support farmers in meeting the requirements for organic certification, opening the way for Makueni’s organic mangoes to access higher-value export markets.

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟎𝐭𝐡, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 ~ The use of locally available foods is emerging as a practical way for communities to improve nutrition, diversify diets and strengthen household food security.

This initiative was highlighted during a two-day community sensitization forums held under the Transforming Lives Through Nutrition (TLTN) project by IDE Kenya in collaboration with the County Agriculture Department, Farmer Business Advisors (FBAs), farmers and private-sector actors.

Farmers and community in Ukia and Mbitini Wards explored the nutritional value of locally grown crops and learned practical ways of preparing a variety of nutritious meals before sampling the prepared delicacies.

The Monday and Tuesday sessions also promoted dietary diversity and encouraged households to make better use of affordable foods readily available within their communities.

The engagement further connected farmers with seed and agrochemical suppliers to improve access to quality farm inputs.

By combining nutrition education with stronger agricultural linkages, the initiative is helping communities translate locally available resources into healthier meals, improved food security and more resilient households.