Murang’a county residents have been urged to take advantage of the modern, Sh385 million (€3 mln) market the government will build in Kangari town. This market will have a cold storage, making it a collection centre for farm produce for export.
Kigumo MP Wangari Mwaniki said the market will end the inconsistent supply challenge, which has made it impossible for local farmers to access the export market. “The market will have cold rooms that will facilitate the packaging of our produce for export purposes.”
Mwaniki, however, added the market will require farmers to change from their conventional farming and adopt farming methods that do not rely on rain. According to the MP, Kigumo is an agriculturally rich area that does well in horticultural farming due to its climate and soils. She encouraged farmers to also venture into farming of spices such as vanilla, which have a huge demand in the international market.
To ensure a consistent supply, the market that is strategically located will source for potatoes and vegetables from the neighbouring Nyandarua county to enhance its export capacity. “We are happy that the government is constructing the Kinyona-Gatura-Njabiini road that will make it easy to transport farm produce from Nyandarua county,” the MP said. She added that the market is also targeting the Great Lakes Region that includes Burundi, Malawi, Congo, Rwanga, Uganda and Tanzania.
The-star.co.ke reported how she reiterated the need for the country to turn its focus towards exportation to empower Kenyans and strengthen the economy.