German chemical firm Badische Anilin-und Soda-Fabrik (BASF) is set to test a storage technology, known as polyurethane, in Nyandarua before adopting it for other counties.
Post-harvest losses in Nyandarua, predominantly a potato growing region stands at 40 per cent, equivalent to Sh3 billion annually.
The region produces 550 metric tonnes of potatoes or an average of 15 metric tonnes per hectare, earning the farmers an estimated Sh9 billion annually.
Nyandarua has been selected as a model county in a trial project spearheaded by Kenya Investment Authority in partnership with a Germany firm to cut post-harvest losses of potato farmers.
Under the Unlocking Africa’s Food Potential programme, German chemical firm Badische Anilin-und Soda-Fabrik (BASF) is set to test a storage technology, known as polyurethane, in Nyandarua before adopting it for other counties.
Post-harvest losses in Nyandarua, predominantly a potato growing region stands at 40 per cent, equivalent to Sh3 billion annually. The region produces 550 metric tonnes of potatoes or an average of 15 metric tonnes per hectare, earning the farmers an estimated Sh9 billion annually. The county produces between 33 and 35 per cent of Kenya’s total potato output. Officials of the three entities held talks in a meeting co-chaired by governor Francis Kimemia and BASF Africa vice president Michael Gotsche, where a technical committee, coordinated by Sheila Nyamweya of Kenya Investment Authority was formed.
The committee’s mandate is to come up with a memorandum of understanding to be signed in April, paving the way for construction of horticultural park houses in October equipped with the modern storage equipment.
The county plans to have seven park houses in the region.
Mr Gotsche said deployment of the technology would pave the way for value-addition.
“The biggest challenge that the county must address is the supply of the raw materials.
“It’s uneconomical to have the park houses with empty cooling systems at any given time," said Mr Gotsche.
"We cannot talk of storage but ignore processing and we cannot talk of processing and ignore the marketing segment.
“Our objective is to economically empower the small-scale farmer."
He expressed optimism that a modern storage system and sustained supply of raw materials would ensure the processing plant operates for 24 hours, translating to improved income for farmers.
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