The County Government of Bomet has embarked on the construction of an Avocado Pack-house which will facilitate the aggregation of fresh avocado fruit produced by farmers in the region for value addition, marketing and exports.
The initiative includes the setting up of a state-of-the-art cold-storage packhouse where fresh avocado fruit produce will be received, cleaned, sorted, waxed, graded, and packaged before they are dispatched directly to the market, both locally and internationally.
The facility, fully owned by the Bomet County Government and being built in Boito Ward, Konoin Sub-County, will not only help eradicate unscrupulous middlemen who have been exploiting farmers for years but also ensure a longer shelf life for perishable agricultural produce.
As a result, this venture is expected to enable farmers to fully benefit from their hard work.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Bomet Governor, Prof. Hillary Barchok, noted that the county was the leading Avocado hub in the entire South Rift region, adding that the introduction of the Pack-house will be a game changer in the Avocado sector.
“In Africa, Kenya is ranked as the number one avocado-producing nation and globally at number seven. Bomet is on a trajectory to become an avocado hub in the West of the Rift Valley region,” said Prof. Barchok.
The Governor noted that the proposed Sh180 million Avocado Pack-house will benefit farmers from Bomet and the neighbouring counties of Kericho, Nyamira, and Kisii, among others.
He added that since 2017, the County Government of Bomet has distributed over 189,720 subsidised quality Avocado seedlings, 69,000 of which have already matured.
Prof. Barchok also noted that Konoin Sub County leads in the number of Avocados planted in Bomet County, having planted over 56,000 avocados.
At the same time, the professor encouraged farmers in the county to consider venturing into Avocado farming as a way of diversifying their sources of income.
He observed that the avocado crop had multiple benefits to individuals and society at large, in terms of being a source of food and nutrition, income and provision of vegetative greenery, which is paramount in the mitigation of climate change.
Prof. Barchok reiterated that his administration was poised to enhance support for the farmers to promote avocado production and the establishment of the Pack-house was among the multi-pronged approaches the county government was taking apart from the continued distribution of the subsidised seedlings to the farmers.
He said that the Pack-house project was his priority and committed to closely monitor its progress to ensure that it not only conforms to the required standards but is also delivered within the stipulated time.
By Erick Ongeri
