This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
Published on August 7, 2019, residents of Kabondo Kasipul in Western Kenya are calling on the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives to revisit plans to establish a potato processing plant in their area.
The region is the highest producer of sweet potatoes in Western Kenya, but farmers are abandoning the crop due to poor returns. Area MP Eve Obara said the region enjoys good climatic conditions favourable for sweet potato farming, but farmers are struggling to make ends meet.
Ms Obara explained that the establishment of the factory would help farmers store their produce and reduce losses arising from poor farm-to-market links. The factory would also help farmers get better returns for their crop.
According to the MP, the ministry had identified land for the project and was seeking partners to help kick-start the factory. However, the project stalled after the groundbreaking ceremony.
Ms Obara said, “We have identified land for the project. What we want from the Government is the infrastructure that can help our farmers store their produce.”
