This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
On the shores of Lake Victoria, a significant development is underway in Busia County. The county government, in partnership with the World Bank, has initiated the construction of a Ksh 60 million integrated modern fish market.
According to the Busia Cross-Border Fish Management Unit, the facility will not only host 500 fishmongers from neighboring counties of Kisumu and Kakamega but also be equipped with modern machinery to support value addition efforts.
This means that locals will now be able to produce a variety of animal feeds from fish, further enhancing the region's economic prospects.
Elsewhere, in Makueni County, over 2000 farmers have turned to macadamia and timber tree production as an alternative to coffee, citing reduced earnings from the crop.
The farmers claim their coffee payment has dropped by ten shillings in the past two years, significantly impacting their earnings.
Meanwhile, in Nakuru County, potato farmers who have not joined organized groups under the Potato Platforms, supported by the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIG), have been urged to expedite the process.
Dr. Immaculate Maina, the County Executive for Agriculture, emphasized the benefits of joining the Potato platforms, citing direct sales to Twiga Foods Company in Nairobi and hotels where the county has negotiated favorable prices.
She also highlighted the importance of scheduling harvests to coincide with market negotiations, ensuring that farmers make profits and preventing post-harvest losses.
Salome Njeri, the leader of the New Nyota group in Kuresoi, commended the efforts of the County Agricultural department in streamlining the marketing of potatoes, allowing farmers to bypass brokers and negotiate better prices.
