Mango farmers to benefit from a new contract with two leading buyers

Mango farmers in Muranga County will benefit financially after they attracted major investors willing to contract them to deliver the fruits.

Already, two leading companies Sunny Mango and Kevian Limited have partnered with Murang'a county government to buy the produce at a higher price in an effort to protect farmers from manipulation by the market traders and fruit processors.

The investors are estimated to buy an estimated 8,100 metric tonnes from Murang'a farmers this year.

.

Keep Reading

• Tips for farming Oregano
• Farmers earn Sh1b from coffee
• Kenyan agricultural traders eye market opportunities through CIIE
• Causes and solutions of pecking in flock of birds
• Why Calf Diarrhoea is Common on the Farm

Peter Mwai a farmer in Ithanga ward said the fruit farmers have been let down owing to middlemen manipulating the prices of fruits.

"The roads to Ithanga are well maintained but middlemen manipulate the prices exposing the growers to losses despite the quality of the fruits. Gestures by the Governor Irungu Kang'ata administration are welcomed as the farmers will get better returns," said Mwai.

Mary Mbatha, a resident of Kamahuha village, said last year the traders went home with low income as the quality of the fruits was affected by the prolonged drought.

"Since February 10, the price per mango rose to Sh5 and Sh10respectively depending on the sizes," said Mbatha.

She added that the price at the farm had doubled after the County Government came up with the programme that attracted the investors.

Agriculture officer at the county government Daniel Gitahi said there is an elaborate programme to ensure all the farmers will benefit during the collection schedule.

"There are county government officials assigned to keep an eye on the route to ensure there will be a 100 per cent collection of mango fruits," said Gitahi.

In the organised market, a farmer will be selling a kilogramme of mangoes at Sh21 and receive a Sh5 subsidy from the County Government.

Muranga County offers a subsidy to mango and dairy farmers.

There are 48 collection routes manned by 25 county government employees.

"I am passionate about farming as mango farmers over the years remained oppressed with traders exploiting them. Today my administration has given them a platform to demand for better returns," said Governor Irungu Kangata.

In the collection list, the two firms are collecting 15 tonnes a day with Sunny Mango buying 10 tonnes of the produce.

According to Gitahi, an official at the department of agriculture the mango programme is designed to benefit 5,000 farmers.

The former Murang'a Governor Mwangi wa Iria during his term scaled the price of avocado with a fruit fetching above Sh12 up from a shilling.

Last year, Murang'a farmers sold 8,400 metric tonnes of mangoes to middlemen who bought the fruits from the farms directly.