In Murang’a County, Kenya, the Saba Saba Agribusiness cooperative society is witnessing the realization of a two-decade long aspiration - a banana factory. With a Sh.24 million investment, the factory, set to be fully functional next year, is expected to rewrite the region's agricultural story.
The forthcoming banana factory, transcending conventional market standards, aims to add value to banana products. Its production line will feature an array of banana derivatives like banana flour, crisps, jam, juice and even wine. Alex Kamau, the cooperative’s chairman, perceives the factory as a transformative entity that will not just reshape the market but also ensure higher returns for farmers by circumventing middlemen.
The Saba Saba Agribusiness cooperative society currently aids about 1,800 farmers from Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and surrounding counties. It guarantees fair remuneration for their bananas at Sh13 per kilo, with weekly bank payments. Besides marketing produce, the cooperative also imparts monthly trainings on profitable farming and other topics, and advocates for fertilizer subsidies and other services for its members.
The establishment of the banana factory, bolstered by a Sh20 million grant from the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP), is set to generate employment opportunities, stimulating the local economy and promoting inclusive growth. However, the looming threat of the Black Sigatoka Leaf Disease (Mycosphaerella fijiensis), a major banana industry pathogen, underlines the importance of such initiatives for the sector's resilience and profitability.
Source: bnnbreaking.com