This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
August 4, 2020, marked a significant milestone for banana farmers in Nyeri's Mukurweini region as Reuben Kibue, a dedicated teacher, launched a food processing plant to rescue the ailing industry.
The plant, established in 2016, buys bananas from farmers at Sh15 per kilogram, a price that has dropped to Sh12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this has inadvertently revitalized the banana farming sector, which was on the verge of collapse.
"While growing up, I noticed that most farmers were giving up on banana farming, which is their mainstay following the collapse of coffee farming in the area. That's why I came up with the idea of setting up this plant where I buy bananas and process them into porridge flour," said Kibue.
The plant, located at Kihuti village, has already employed over a dozen people and is set to expand in the next five years. Despite facing financial challenges, Kibue remains committed to his vision.
For banana farmers like Ruth Kavindu, the plant has been a game-changer. "Before this plant was set up, we used to ferry our produce to the local market where we would sell a bunch at only Sh150. However, this is now a thing of the past as we are now fetching Sh400 on delivery," she said.
Orthodox Church Vicar General Mt Kenya Region Gregory Wanjohi echoed similar sentiments, praising Kibue's efforts. "We as a church are encouraged by Kibue's efforts. We feel our people are benefitting," he said.
