Kenya launches digital platform to assist farmers minimize post-harvest losses | Meals Enterprise Africa

KENYA – The Cooperative College of Kenya (CUK) has developed a Sh105 million (US$815,000) platform designed to help farmers in cooperative societies monitor actual time market costs and gross sales.

The platform will profit farmers dealing in dairy, maize and potatoes in 4 counties are to cut back post-harvest losses by linking them with potential patrons.

The digital platform known as the Kenya Rural Transformation Centre for Digital Platform (KRTCDP), it has built-in traceability system to make sure farmers adhere to each native and worldwide security requirements.

The platform funded by the African Improvement Financial institution is presently being piloted in Baringo, Nakuru, Narok and Nyandarua counties. Plans are in place to broaden this functionality to further meals crops.

“The platform will be certain that cooperatives acquire visibility out there. Every member may have entry to farm inputs and direct market connections which can deal with points comparable to post-harvest administration, extension providers and climate,” mentioned Director of Analysis and Innovation at CUK, Professor Ken Waweru.

The know-how will enable onboarded farmers to obtain cell phone notifications in regards to the amount of produce delivered, boosting transparency in cooperative operations.

Total post-harvest losses in Kenya’s agriculture sector are estimated at between 20 per cent and 30 per cent, the horticulture sub-sector information losses of as much as 60 per cent, based on the regional physique.

Kenya can be amongst 5 international locations within the area which have the backing of the Frequent Marketplace for Jap and Southern Africa (COMESA) to chop post-harvest losses within the horticulture sector.

That is underneath the COMESA- EAC Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA) programme targets to enhance manufacturing and distribution, entry to high quality seeds, coaching, set up requirements and traceability, and strengthen post-harvest administration whereas enhancing beneficial properties within the worth chain.

The five-year programme focused at Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia is eager to chop the losses in horticulture to 40 per cent, or decrease.

It targets potatoes, avocados and onion farming with Kenya being the primary nation COMESA has launched the drive, with a objective of reaching a commerce worth of $25 million (Sh3.3 billion) for fruit and veggies throughout the Comesa-EAC area by 2031.

Estimates point out avocados; onions and Irish potatoes can generate a mixed US$230 million (Sh29.9 billion) yearly for about 450,000 smallholder farmers of a minimal farm measurement of 0.4 hectare with 60 avocado bushes, or 1 hectare for onion farmers.

The COMESA initiative goals to propel international exports from US$416 million (Sh54.1 billion) to a formidable $ 950 million (Sh123.5 billion) over the subsequent seven years.