“Our fruits are unrivalled
and come in plenty. Mangoes, bananas, oranges, guavas,
watermelons,
paw paws grow here in large numbers. We want to harvest and process the
same using
technology to better incomes for farmers and the county.” -Governor
Ali Roba
Mandera County Government is investing a significant amount of
resources
and
technology to help farmers realize revenue potential from juice production as
they
sell their fruits. World Bank reports have shown that global demand for
tropical juices is on the rise. Consumers are lured not only by the intense flavours,
but also by the potential health benefits. Mandera wants to play big in this
field.
Traditionally,
the North Eastern regions of Kenya have been profiled as non-productive and
non-reliant on food aid and imports, but the first devolution government of
Mandera is changing the script. Governor
Ali Roba says: “In May 2015, we will
start the construction of a new fruit-processing facility with state-of-the-art
processing, sterilization and packaging equipment.”
The
processed juice can be stored long enough to help overcome issues often blamed
for
food shortages and reduced earning potential from agriculture. The World Bank
estimates that nearly half of Africa’s total farm yield is lost between
harvest, warehousing, post-harvest marketing and transport to the final
consumer.
First,
Mandera was greening the deserts with irrigation technology. Now the county is
venturing
into industrial production, barely 24
months into devolution. Motivated by success stories on how arid lands have
been turned around, the County administration is going full-throttle to take
advantage of its strategic geographical location and the huge regional market
of 3.5 million people, including
neighbours in Ethiopia and Somalia.
 |
| Irrigation along River Daua |
After
feasibility studies and demo projects of successful farm products in fruits,
grains, livestock fodder, fish and bee keeping among others, the County
leadership is eyeing value addition in the chain to process and package goods
for local and international markets.
 |
| Honey for sale in Mandera. |
“Our fruits are unrivalled and come in
plenty. Mangoes, bananas, oranges, guavas, watermelons and paw paws grow here
in plenty. We want to harvest and process the same using technology to better incomes
for farmers and the county,” Governor
Roba says. “Nature gave us a
strategic location and industrious people. We are investing in irrigation to
increase food production and target export markets with quality products,”
the Governor adds.
 | |
| Watermelon in Mandera County. |
The
county executive member for Industrialisation Abdiaziz Maad says: “Our farmers have done their part by turning
from pastoralism. We support them through seed subsidies, capacity building and
value addition of their products, and help them find markets,“ Maad says. “We want to introduce more farmers to fruit
farming and tap fruits grown in neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia to make the
plant sustainable,” Maad says.
Other Industries
Other
initiatives in place for industrialization include maize milling plant and
empowering the Jua Kali sector to produce farm equipment locally. The County
has invested heavily in agricultural mechanization through the Department of Agriculture.
“We
target to value livestock products like leather tanneries, a modern abattoir
and a mini honey refinery. We have planned a cement factory of which the county
has engaged consultants on the potential gypsum and limestone deposits in
Mandera South and Mandera North,” says Maad.
Achievements
•
Fruit processing factory feasibility study and design completed.
•
Rehabilitatation of 8 stalled markets and construction of 6 new ones.
•
Commission and construction of Elwak SME park.
•
Construction of a Five Star hotel.
•
Construction of broadcasting house.
• Internet
service provision.
•
Mandera County Trade.
•
Development Fund Act enacted.
•
Mobile telephony network expansion
•
ICT Policy enacted.
•
Revived 22 cooperatives
•
Registered 8 and 60 awaiting certificates.
•
Capacity building for 40 cooperative leaders.
•
Tailor-made entrepreneurship training
•
One stop business license unit
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