The
Mountain Journal
Governor Anne Waiguru has opened the first exclusive tomato market in the
county, bringing the long-awaited relief to farmers and traders.
Tomato Market becomes the largest tomato aggregation center for county farmers
who sell their produce to retail and export traders.
is the largest producer of tomato in the country with an estimated annual
production capacity of 63,000 tons, fetching the farmers around Ksh. 1.5
billion annually.
counties as well as Nairobi and Mombasa provide the largest market for the
commodity.
the official opening on Wednesday, Waiguru said that the market will
accommodate about 500 tomato traders who have been selling by the roadside but have
since been displaced by the ongoing expansion of the Kenol-Sagana-Marua dual
carriage.
market will provide a conducive environment for our traders and shield them
from harsh weather conditions such as sunshine and rain. Their produce will
also be protected from getting spoilt by mud during the rainy seasons, hence
reducing post-harvest losses,” said the governor.
noted that the market has modern social amenities such as toilets, car parks,
proper storm water drainage as well as adequate lighting system that will lead
to extension of transaction hours.
said organic waste from the market would be collected by pig farmers to feed their animals.
have also placed waste bins marked Organic
and Non-organic with the aim
of separating waste from the market. The bins that are marked Organic will be
used for dumping the organic waste which will then be collected by our pig
farmers to feed their animals,” she added.
Wezesha, we have supported 69 farmers’ groups to upscale tomato production,
through construction of green houses for seedling propagation and growing of high
yielding tomatoes,” added the governor.
has enabled farmers to plant around 1.1 million seedlings on an extra 122 acres
of land which will in turn lead to production of an extra 11,000 tons of
To
address post-harvest loses and add value to the tomatoes, Waiguru said that the
county government is in the process of constructing a tomato factory in Kangai,
Mwea constituency, noting that value addition will earn farmers more money and
create employment opportunities for Kirinyaga people. The factory will be making tomato products like tomato sauce, tomato juice,
paste, pulp, concentrate and diced tomatoes.
is also expected the number of tomato farmers will double as a result of the ready
market for the produce.
said that the county government will continue supporting farmers to upscale
tomato farming as well as provision of favourable marketing environment.
are in the process of constructing four additional aggregation centers for our
farmers in Kibirigwi, Riakiania, Kimbimbi and Togonye, the latter two being for
tomato farmers. We are committed to implementing high impact projects that will
in the long run touch every household in the county”, said the second time
governor who is also the Chairperson of the Council of Governors.
the tomato aggregation centers, Waiguru’s administration has over the last five
years constructed 15 other markets namely: Makutano, Wang’uru, Kagio Cereals
market, Kagio Clothes market, Kutus, Kagumo, Kianyaga, Kiamutugu, Kerugoya,
Sagana, Kibingoti, Karumandi, Githure, Gathoge and Kerugoya Hospital Fruits
Market Sheds.
Kirinyaga program has so far supported about 500 farmers groups to undertake
various agricultural value chain projects with an additional 350 groups
recruited this year for support in poultry keeping, tomato, avocado, pigs and
fish farming among others.
