In the same year , Kenya exported 314 thousand metric tons of fresh horticultural products . The sector is largely led by off-takers and exporters registered under the Horticultural Crops Directorate , who mostly contract small-scale farmers across the country . While most of the challenges faced by aggregators are related to the shortcomings and inefficiencies in the small-scale structure of the Kenyan agricultural sector , other significant constraints include the low adoption of cold storage . |
With over 200 registered exporters in the subsector , smallholder farmers who would otherwise be dependent on local markets , are able to access high-value export markets . However , fresh produce is considered a substantially risky and volatile industry , attributed to the perishability of fresh fruits and vegetables . The low adoption rate of cold chain solutions has not made things any easier , with only about 5 % of fresh produce passing through cooling infrastructure . While approximately
96 % of fresh produce in Kenya caters to the
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local consumer market , an average of 4 % | |||
caters to the fresh export markets across | |||
European nations . | |||
One of these fresh produce exporters in | |||
Kenya is Instaveg , tucked in rural Kirinyaga |
Instaveg packing French beans in the processing facility for export to Europe . |
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County ; and made up of aggregators , | |||
processors and marketers . Their current |
• Additionally , Instaveg received two |
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portfolio of export consists of garden peas , |
auxiliary facilities , with a total dimension |
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lemongrass , peas , French beans and baby |
of 200m 2 , to provide areas for crate |
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corn . Within its network , Instaveg has 200 |
storage , additional office space , nursing , |
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farms and 300 smallholder farmers who sell |
bathrooms , security and staff canteen . |
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their produce from their farms ranging from | |||
0.5 to 6 hectares . |
This newest facility has helped Instaveg |
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Instaveg ’ s activities mainly cut across |
become the biggest employer in their local |
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the procurement , distribution , produce |
region , currently hiring predominantly rural |
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logistics , sorting , packaging and marketing |
women of their surrounding community . |
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of the fresh produce for the export market |
Moreover , Instaveg provides agronomy |
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predominantly . Within its farmer network , |
training and frequent quality control to |
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Instaveg faced several challenges , including , |
farmers in its network . Their team picks fresh |
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post-harvest losses due to inefficient cold |
produce bi-weekly , with produce temporarily |
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chain facilities , failing to meet certification |
left in the grading shed awaiting collection |
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Fine beans exporters in Kenya . |
standards to access export markets . |
by Instaveg ’ s 5.5Mt refrigerated trucks on |
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Initially , Instaveg utilised a rentedsponsored |
the same day of harvest . Upon arrival on- |
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cooling facility , before adopting |
site , the trucks are immediately offloaded , |
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InspiraFarm ’ s modular cold storage . While |
and produce is kept in InspiraFarms ’ cold |
Vegetable cold rooms Kenya . |
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the rented-sponsored system provided |
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an alternative cooling solution , it failed to |
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meet the efficiency needed to retain quality |
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standards and ensure the shelf life required |
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before and after export . At the same time , |
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the high running and maintenance costs for |
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these old cooling facilities that were over 30 |
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years old , cut down their margins drastically . |
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• In 2021 , InspiraFarms delivered to |
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Instaveg a 440m 2 project , divided into |
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three independent facilities : |
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• A 240m 2 outdoor modular packhouse |
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facility , composed of 30m 2 of raw material |
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pre-cooling room , 30m 2 of cold storage , |
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90m 2 of processing area , 60m 2 of offices , |
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hygiene and crates storage , 15m 2 of |
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reception area , and 15m 2 of storage |
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space . The facility is suitable for medium |
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care food processing and has a capacity |
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of cooling and processing more than six |
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Cold room data loggers in Kenya |
tons of fresh produce per day . |
Cold rooms for mixed vegetables in Kenya . |
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