By Wasike Elvis
Farmers Co-operatives in Uasin Gishu County are expected to benefit from a potato processing plant recently opened in Ainabkoi, Uasin Gishu County by Governor Jackson Mandago.
This facility will assist potato farmers to avoid post-harvest losses that they have been experiencing due to lack of ready markets and adequate storage facilities.
“ Farmers will be able to store their produce during periods of bumper harvests and then sell to the market when prices are favourable and supply is low. The next step is adding value to the potatoes so that farmers can fetch better prices,” said Mandago.
He said this potato storage facility is as a result of resolutions passed during the North Rift Economic Bloc ( Noreb) investment conference, held in Eldoret two years ago. He urged potato farmers to form Co-operatives so as to benefit from the storage plant.
“We want to ensure that we help farmers and this can only happen if they form Cooperatives. It is difficult for us to deal with individual farmers, “ said Mandago.
Remko Kruith from the Netherlands Company in charge of the potato chilling plant said, “We see Uasin Gishu as an ideal investment area and so decided to put up potato plant here, the first of its kind in Africa,” said Kruith.
