Impact of MFPP
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• Provided an alternative market for Mango Farmers
• Reduced post-harvest losses .
• Stabilized fruit prices .
• Created job opportunities : directly ( 18 staff , 120 casuals daily at the peak season ) and indirectly ( mango pickers , loaders , offloaders )
• Promoted the local economy through the hire of transport services for Mangoes from the farm to the factory
• In partnership with other stakeholders , conducted the Komesha fly campaign ( in two wards ) which in turn reduced preand post-harvest losses
• In partnership with stakeholders , established two fruit nurseries and two demonstration farms
• Increased income as a result of selling Mangoes or providing a service along the Mango value chain thus improving the livelihood of employees and farmers .
Long term plans
Dreams not achieved turned into nightmares during the peak seasons when mango prices dipped to three shillings per piece , leaving farmers distraught . However , now the plant has made farmers its primary stakeholder .
The Factory will provide opportunities for local farmers and investors to own a stake , grow wealth , learn new technologies and learn about value addition to increase farm income . This is in line with one of the big four agendas for the national government on Agriculture .
Collaboration and networking
In implementing the planned activities , MCFDMA has partnered and collaborated with several organizations and institutions . The main partnerships have focused on training , capacity building , marketing and market development .
These collaborating institutions include , but are not limited to ;
1 . European Union has offered partial funding of the project and Technical support .
2 . Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service ( KEPHIS ) - Certification of fruit nurseries .
3 . Cooperative Societies Farmers mobilization and Shares mobilization .
4 . Kenya Bureau of Standards ( KEBS ) - Statutory standards ( S-marks ).
5 . Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute ( KIRDI ) - Processing technology
6 . USAID-Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Development Project ( USAID-KCD ) - Mango value chain development - Development of MCFDMA regulations
7 . Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology , University of Nairobi & Egerton University - Development of the mango value chain and Product Development .
8 . Horticultural Crops Directorate
( HCD ) Certification of Nurseries and facilitating the signing of Contracts .
9 . Export Promotion Council ( EPC ) - Market Development ( export market )
10 . Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization ( KALRO ) - Research and Training
Finally , as part of the strategy to encourage young and female entrepreneurs , MCFDMA management has worked closely with the gender / youth department and existing funds ( e . g . Tetheka ) to explore ways of supporting female / youth-led groups to access and participate in selling bottled water and RTD Juice from MFPP . Further , the youth has been involved in the entire mango value chain i . e . from production , value addition to marketing .
Agnes Kitili www . mcfdma . co . ke
Kenya Cottage - DEAR Edition
Credit : USAID