This archive report was first published on 20 October 2019.
Everline Kemunto sells ripe bananas in Kisii county market on October 03, 2019. The sweet bananas, known as "Ebisukari" in Kisii dialect, serve as a cash crop and source of income for many farmers.
Thanks to Governor James Ongwae, farmers in Kisii County will no longer have to sell their bananas and avocados at throwaway prices due to lack of market. The much-awaited banana factory is nearing completion, with Ongwae confirming that the two factories will be commissioned in June next year.
“The two factories will increase both the shelf life and value of our farm produce, resulting in higher income to our farmers,” said Ongwae.
The banana factory project has been jointly funded through the European Union (EU) Instruments for Devolution Advice and Support (IDEAS-Kenya) programme and the Kisii County government. In July, Ongwae, Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa, and the European Union (EU) Head of Macroeconomics Vincent De Boer laid the foundation stone for the banana factory.
“Our county currently produces 350,000 metric tonnes of bananas annually, with most of them being sold out of the county. Construction of the factory would be a major milestone to present and future generations,” Ongwae said.
According to Ongwae, middlemen get 90 per cent of the banana proceeds, with the farmers getting only 10 per cent. The factory will process 80 metric tonnes per day, leading to high demand for bananas, and Ongwae called on area farmers to cultivate more bananas to ensure the factory is running.
The EU has granted the county Sh110 million for the banana value chain project, with the county government giving a counter fund of Sh60 million to establish the factory at a site within the Kisii Agriculture Training Centre (ATC) land.
Esman Onsarigo, County Executive Committee member in charge of Agriculture, said Kisii is known for banana production and the county government has already facilitated registration of a banana farmers’ cooperative society with an initial membership of 2,250 farmers.
“We will establish three green banana produce collection centres in each ward, thus creating employment opportunities for our youth,” Ongwae said.
Once operational, the banana factory is poised to churn out a number of products including banana powder, hair pieces, crisps, and wine.
