‘Transform livelihoods of fruit farmers in Makueni County’
Mission Statement
‘To develop produce, produce and market high-quality fruits and fruit products globally’
WHO WE ARE
MAKUENI COUNTY FRUIT DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING AUTHORITY (MCFDMA) is an agro-processing entity located at the heart of Makueni fruit orchards at the County of Makueni in Kenya.
Established with a primary purpose of value creation for the fruit farmers of Makueni, we produce 100% NATURAL MANGO PUREE for commercial use and have over the past 3 years been a reliable supplier to juice manufactures in Kenya, Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Before devolution, the idea of establishing a fruit processing Plant in Makueni to help fruit farmers to stem wastage and raise incomes was always pre-eminent. However, the power and opportunity to allocate public resources of the magnitude required to realize this remained a dream.
The idea of setting up a fruit processing plant in Makueni was conceived through public participation among the citizens of Makueni County.
As per the findings of the public participation and business plan, the Government of Makueni County (GMC) invested in the construction of the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant and it is considered the flagship project of the county.
The main objectives of MFPP were three fold:
• To reduce post-harvest losses of fruits;
• To stabilize fruit prices; and
• To provide an alternative market for fruits from Makueni County.
The MFPP was commissioned on 29th June 2017 by the Governor, H.E. Prof Kivutha Kibwana.
In order to operate the plant profitably and sustainably the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority (MCFDMA) was established through the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority (Amendment) Act, 2017
The broad mandate of MCFDMA is to:
• Oversee the management of MFPP; and
• Develop the fruit value chain in the County
The Makueni Fruit Processing Plant (MFPP) was established in line with Government of Makueni County Vision 2025 Strategic Approaches to Economic Transformation Strategic Interventions No. 4 and No 6.
The focus for strategic intervention No. 4 is on the management of post-harvest losses by way of promoting value addition to increase product shelf life as well as development of food processing infrastructure.
Strategic intervention No. 6 focuses on promotion of value addition and marketing through providing support to the construction, commissioning and operationalization of the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant.
Manufacturing and value addition are among the Big Four agenda items of the national government.
MCFDMA contributes towards this agenda by processing mangoes into 100% natural puree which ultimately will be reconstituted into ready to drink juice. The Plant has a capacity to process 5 metric tonnes of raw mangoes producing 3,000 liters of mango puree per hour.
THE IMPACT OF MFPP
• 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, off-loaders)
• Promoted the local economy through 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 pre-and 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 in 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 trainings, capacity building, marketing and market development.
These collaborating institutions include, but not limited to;
1. European Union that 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 mango value chain and Product Development.
8. Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) Certification of Nurseries and facilitating 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.
