Counties

Meru spent Sh250m on markets; 4 years on they are empty and wasting away

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A section of ceiling that has fallen off at Mugambone Banana Collection centre constructed at Sh23 million. The facility is yet to be handed over to farmers for use. PHOTO | DAVID MUCHUI | NMG

Four years after the government and the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development funded the construction of eight horticulture markets in Meru, the multimillion-shilling facilities are gathering dust, and growing moulds and weeds.

Disagreements over their status before handing over to the county government as well as disputes on management have turned the facilities that cost close to Sh250 million into white elephants.

The markets and collection centres constructed under the Ministry of Agriculture’s Smallholder Horticulture Marketing Programme (Shomap) are located at Thimangiri, Kithaku, Ngonyi, Mugambone, Kariene, Nkubu, Miruri-iiri and Kithaene.

Out of the eight facilities, only Kariene horticulture collection centre is being utilised by farmers for sale and storage of bananas while the rest continue to waste away.

At Thimangiri in North Imenti, the Sh27 million collection centre equipped with a ripening chamber and a cold room was used for a short stint before a dispute over management scuttled operations.

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Thimangiri Horticulture Collection Centre. The facility with 45,000 litres of water, fully functional ripening chamber and cold room is empty. PHOTO | DAVID MUCHUI | NMG

'Excessive' fees

Thuura Vision Group, which was managing the facility, accuses the county government of demanding too much cess from the collection centre.

“The county officials wanted to take control of the market. They were charging Sh20 per banana bunch while the buyer had to pay Sh1,000 per trip.

"Farmers were not making any money from selling at the facility. Most of us have since uprooted the bananas while others sell to brokers,” Mr George Mutua, the group’s chairman said.

The county government pays a watchman who guards the facility that is now dusty and under invasion by anthills.

At Kithaku in Imenti Central, potato farmers who were to reap more profits from the modern market are nowhere to be seen.

The floor is covered in dust while cobwebs fight for space on 158 lockers, some of which are still locked after they were allocated to farmers in 2015.

Despite gobbling Sh36 million, only a handful of farmers operate from the spacious Kithaku Horticulture Market.

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Mr Silas Mutai, the chairman of Kithaku Smallholder Farmers Group inspects lockers at Kithaku Horticulture Market that is yet to be occupied by traders. PHOTO | DAVID MUCHUI | NMG

Poor roads

Mr Silas Mutai, the chairman of Kithaku smallholder farmers group that initiated the project blames poor roads for the collapse of the market.

“Farmers prefer going to sell at Katheri Market which is next to a tarmac road because buyers cannot access Kithaku area.

"Brokers also go to the farms to collect the produce from farmers. We expect [that] the tarmacking of Meru town-Kithaku road will revive the facility,” Mr Mutai said.

The only life at the Mugambone banana collection centre, which cost Sh23 million, is a county security guard.

A spot-check by the Business Daily found that the ceiling in most of the well finished rooms was falling off due to poor workmanship.

Mugambone farmers group chairman Gideon Gitonga said the 12-tonne ripening chamber and grading facilities remain idle despite them being ready to run the centre.

“We sell 24 tonnes every month at Sh15 per kilo. If we are allowed to use the collection centre, we can add value to the bananas and earn more. Selling ripened bananas can triple the earnings per kilo,” Mr Gitonga said.

READ: Sh50mn sweet potato plant spells promise for Meru farmers

Nkubu market

Recently, Meru governor Kiraitu Murungi ordered traders in Nkubu town to move into multi-million horticulture market that has remained unused for the last five years.

Nkubu Horticulture Market, which cost more than Sh130 million, has its storage chambers rotting away while the cabro paving is covered by grass and shrubs.

“I lobbied for the construction of this facility while I was MP and it’s unfortunate that it remains unused five years later.

"Whoever is given space in the market must start paying rates to the county government and put it into use within three months. If a stall is unused after three months, it will be re-allocated to whoever is ready for business,” Mr Murungi said.

However, the market is yet to be occupied due to disputes among traders over the sharing of space.

At Kithaene in Imenti South, the Sh22 million modern market meant to benefit french beans farmers is covered with dust from the last four years.

Murirune Horticulture community based organisation (CBO) chairman Silas Marete said the contractor left before completing the cold-room.

“We need about Sh3 million from the county government to complete all the works. We are all set to start using the facility but the county government is yet to hand it over to us,” Mr Marete said.

He said the CBO had an ambitious plan to open up local and international market to fresh produce farmers in the area.

Vandalised

Miruri-iiri Market along the Meru-Embu highway is partially in use though it has been vandalised and covered by dust.

The Sh38 million banana collection centre and retail market is yet to be connected to electricity and water supply.

Igoji East Ward rep John Kireria earlier said the market stalled after the contractor sued Shomap over unpaid bills.

“The market needs a fence, toilets and a good access road. The county government has refused to allocate funds to complete remaining works. Traders here are ready to move in when it is ready,” Mr Kireria said.

Ngonyi banana buying centre which cost Sh25 million is also yet to open, leaving farmers operating by the road.

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Farmers weigh bananas at Ngonyi along the Meru-Embu road on February 13, 2018. PHOTO | DAVID MUCHUI | NMG

The markets were to be run by management committees of 13 members representing traders, smallholder farmers, transporters, brokers and county government.

The Shomap programme was to increase quality, food safety and hygiene of fresh produce sold in the region.

But farmers continue to sell bananas and other fresh produce by the highway leading to losses due to exposure to the sun and poor handling.

A Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report on food losses, causes and solutions, 2014 covering Meru, Kirinyaga and Murang’a indicated that banana farmers were losing up to Sh26 million due to lack of collection and ripening centres.