More than 5,000 potato farmers in Uasin Gishu will benefit from the use of cold rooms to preserve their produce ahead of plans to put up a processing factory in the region.
The county government is already constructing the cold rooms in to minimise wastage. Governor Jonathan Bii’s administration is in the process of constructing the new cold room storage facilities at Olare-Ainabkoi ward within Ainabkoi subcounty, which is leading in potato production.
A team from the public works section inspected the state of the cold rooms, which will have a capacity to store more than 1,500 metric tonnes of potatoes in a year.
The facility will be installed with modern technology to maintain optimal temperature. The county boss said once completed, the facility will serve more than 5,000 farmers, minimise wastage and enhance the standards as per requirements for potatoes in both local and international markets.
“This project will solve many challenges for our potato famers who have been selling produce at a throw away price for fear of getting rotten due to poor storage,” Bii said.
He added that the facility would help boost production and attract good prices because the potatoes will be sold at the right time.
n his Nguzo Kumi (Ten-point) agenda on infrastructural development, the governor said his vision focused on strategic planning, excellent designs for projects and implementation of projects that ensures sustainable growth to meet the holistic needs of Uasin Gishu residents.
The farmers, led by Ben Kiara, have welcomed the construction of storage facilities, which they say, will save them from heavy post-harvest losses.
“We are excited with the coming of cold rooms because we have been yearning for such facilities to help us reduce losses we incur after harvesting,” Kiara said.
Uasin Gishu has initiated plans to put up a potato processing plant amidst increased production by farmers in the area along with neighbouring counties of Elgeyo Marakwet and Nakuru.
The county has opened partnership discussions with Forsam Development Limited, a German company, to explore the possibility of establishing a potato chips processing plant.
This move aims to provide a stable market for potato farmers, add value to produce and generate job opportunities in the long run.
Trade and cooperatives executive Martha Cheruto has expressed commitment to attracting investors to the region, which is rich in agricultural production.
She has emphasised Bii’s support for the project and readiness to facilitate its execution as part the vision to help farmers engage in value addition “We are fully committed to supporting this project and ensuring that the people of Uasin Gishu and neighboring counties will benefit by accessing easy market for their produce,” she said.
Cheruto applauded Forsam Development Limited for selecting Uasin Gishu for the project. She said the ongoing construction of a potato cold storage facility in Ainabkoi subcounty would play a crucial role in enhancing the collection and storage of produce.
Trade chief officer Victorine Kapkiai emphasised the need for farmers to scale up potato production once the factory is established.
“We will work to sensitise farmers on the importance of large-scale potato production to meet the demands of the processing plant,” she said.
Albert Kemboi, who presented the Forsam potatoe factory proposal, said Uasin Gishu was selected due to its favourable conditions for potato farming and the cultivation of other high value crops.
Uasin Gishu produces more than 150,000 tonnes of potatoes annually, mainly in the subcounties of Ainabkoi and Kesses.
Farmers in the region have also been yearning for a better market for the crop and have welcomed the proposal to set up the processing plant.
In the neighbouring Elgeyo Marakwet county, potato is the second most important food crop after maize. Potato production is one of the leading enterprise supporting food and nutrition security, employment creation and income generation.
The county is one of the leading
regions in production of potatoes.
