Grain Storage Facilities In Kinamba, Sipili And Mutanga To Improve Lives Of Maize Farmers
Updated on: Sep 22, 2019
Maize farmers in Githiga, Ol Moran and Marmanet wards aim to increase productivity of maize with the construction of three grain warehouses at Kinamba, Sipili and Mutanga by the county government with the funding of the European Union.
The average production per acre is 15 bags and farmers aim to increase their production to reach an average of 40 bags per acre as their now have the storage facilities.
The warehouses have a total capacity of 41,000 bags. Farmers have been selling their maize at throw-away prices due to lack of storage facilities. With the completion of the facilities by the end of this year, the farmers will be able to get better prices for their crop.
These warehouses will enable us as a county to control our produce and at the same time value add add them to ensure maximum benefit in the value chain, said Mr Waweru Kanja, Chairman of Laikipia Maize Value Chain.
HE Governor Ndiritu Muriithi and EU head of delegation to Kenya HE Ambassador Simon Mordue on Friday, 20, September 2019 inspected of the facilities under construction and witnessed the excitement of the farmers.
For this project to have real impact on improving the quality of lives our farmers must increase their maize production and think of value addition, HE the Governor said.
The county government will support by providing extension officers to guide the farmers and capital through the County Enterprise Fund to begin value addition.
The farmers have formed a company, Laikipia Afya limited, to mill the grains and also and also manufacture animal feeds.
"This project will contribute significantly to a reduction in the post- harvest losses and improve maize producer incomes in the long term. We are a strong supporter of Devolution that is why we are partnering with Laikipia County Government and the Ministry of Devolution to implement this project, Ambassador Mordue said.
"The farmer doesn't have to live at the mercy of a broker,"he added.
Through this support, the project will put in place two standard maize storage facilities and upgrade one existing facility, install three maize driers and train over a thousand maize producers in post-harvest technologies. The project will also put in place effective and efficient committees to manage the three storage facilities.
s
The average production per acre is 15 bags and farmers aim to increase their production to reach an average of 40 bags per acre as their now have the storage facilities.
The warehouses have a total capacity of 41,000 bags. Farmers have been selling their maize at throw-away prices due to lack of storage facilities. With the completion of the facilities by the end of this year, the farmers will be able to get better prices for their crop.
These warehouses will enable us as a county to control our produce and at the same time value add add them to ensure maximum benefit in the value chain, said Mr Waweru Kanja, Chairman of Laikipia Maize Value Chain.
HE Governor Ndiritu Muriithi and EU head of delegation to Kenya HE Ambassador Simon Mordue on Friday, 20, September 2019 inspected of the facilities under construction and witnessed the excitement of the farmers.
For this project to have real impact on improving the quality of lives our farmers must increase their maize production and think of value addition, HE the Governor said.
The county government will support by providing extension officers to guide the farmers and capital through the County Enterprise Fund to begin value addition.
The farmers have formed a company, Laikipia Afya limited, to mill the grains and also and also manufacture animal feeds.
"This project will contribute significantly to a reduction in the post- harvest losses and improve maize producer incomes in the long term. We are a strong supporter of Devolution that is why we are partnering with Laikipia County Government and the Ministry of Devolution to implement this project, Ambassador Mordue said.
"The farmer doesn't have to live at the mercy of a broker,"he added.
Through this support, the project will put in place two standard maize storage facilities and upgrade one existing facility, install three maize driers and train over a thousand maize producers in post-harvest technologies. The project will also put in place effective and efficient committees to manage the three storage facilities.
s
