Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o has committed to set up a cold room and storage facilities at the Kisumu International Airport with the help of Kenya Airports Authority to enhance services at the airport and boost business in the horticultural sector.
Speaking while hosting a delegation from The Fresh Products Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEK),Fresh Produce Farmers, Trade Experts and the Lake Region Economic Block (LREB), Governor Nyong’o said that this will enhance the capacity of Kisumu International Airport as a direct gateway for fresh produce to global market.
“This will help in addressing a critical back door in the fresh produce export value chain by ensuring fresh farm produce to maintain their quality during transit to regional and internal markets,” he said.
Nyong’o added that the move is expected to unlock significant economic opportunities for farmers and traders from the 14 counties within the Lake Region Economic Block which will enable them to directly access international markets with fresh high-quality produce.
The stakeholders proposed that the County Government of Kisumu help in establishing mass seedling farms across Kisumu, promote modern fruit grafting technologies and encourage down scaling from synthetic fertilizers to organic alternatives in support of sustainable agriculture in support of sustainable agriculture in the County.
Also present during the function was FPEK CEO Hosea Machuki and his LREB counterpart, Victor Nyagaya.
