PS urges Kenyan farmers to produce for export market

By KNA

Kenya still has a huge export market for its various agricultural produce, Trade PS Dr. Chris Kiptoo has reiterated.

Dr. Kiptoo has therefore urged farmers to increase production to assure steady supply of various commodities to meet the huge international market demands.

He noted that the African Growth and Opportunity Act had given an assurance for Kenya to export its produce to the international market.

“We also have market openings at the European markets, Japan, India among other countries. The major challenge is our lack of enough products to satisfy the market demands,” said the Trade PS.

Dr. Kiptoo added that last year’s export earnings was Sh. 600 billion, which included tea from Meru County.

“Our export base is still narrow because 56 percent of the exports last year constituted five products. We are working with county governments through cooperatives to make sure there are sufficient quantities to trade,” said the PS.

He added that there were new markets for arrow roots and sweet potatoes at the international spheres.

“The government through the ministry of industry has plans to set up factories in various parts of the country where bananas are grown to help in value addition,” said the PS.

Meru County has been ranked as one of the major producers of bananas in the country with a lot of it earning low prices on the local market.

Besides bananas the county’s economy is agricultural with a variety of other horticultural crops.

Kiptoo appealed to the farmers to concentrate on high production to task the government to look for markets for the agricultural produce.

He further called on farmers to ensure their produce meet the recommended quality and safety standards to broaden the already existing international markets.

The PS was speaking during the launch of the Digital Learning Project at Ankamia primary school in Tigania East Sub County on Friday.

He called on residents to support the project citing numerous benefits that are bound to trickle down to the rest of the entire community.

The school received 101 tablets, two laptops for teachers, a server and projector to be used in the digital learning for class one pupils.