Kirinyaga to setup horticulture seedlings propagation centre

Kirinyaga county government is in the process of constructing a modern seedlings propagation centre.

The facility coming up in Kangai in Mwea, is set to be completed in June this year, Governor Anne Waiguru has said.

The county chief said the facility will avail quality and affordable seedlings to area farmers.

Kirinyaga boasts of being one of the top growers of tomato, producing approximately 116,431 tonnes annually.

This is a tremendous increase from the 46,594 tonnes harvested in 2017.

Waiguru said the planting materials from the centre will be high yielding and disease tolerant thus increasing production and lowering production cost.

The construction of the facility prepares farmers to be key beneficiaries of the Sagana Agro-Industrial Park that is coming up where farm produce value addition centres are being put up.

“Availability of the facilities will enable farmers reap more from value addition and will save them from produce post-harvest losses,” she said.

“These interventions are aimed at improving the living standards of the county farmers.”

The CEC for Agriculture John Gachara, said the ambitious project will help bolster tomato production and other horticultural crops.

"The price of seedlings has been on the rise, growing from Sh9 to Sh15. With the establishment of this centre, farmers will have access to quality seedlings at a subsidised price, enabling them to maximise their profits,” Gachara said.

Tomato farmers are upbeat that the completion and operationalisation of the propagation centre will spare them the burden of traveling to scout for quality and genuine seedlings.

Wilson Muriuki, a farmer, said they would travel long distances to buy seeds incurring transportation expenses which ate into their profits.

However reduced prices and the proximity of the facility will save them the cost which he said can be ploughed back into the farming venture.

“We will save a lot of money previously spent on transportation to acquire seedlings. With assured quality and subsidised prices, we can enhance our profitability," Karani Gitari, another farmer said.