Kenya launches digital platform to help farmers cut post-harvest losses

KENYA – The Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK) has developed a Sh105 million (US$815,000) platform designed to assist farmers in cooperative societies monitor real time market prices and sales.

The platform will benefit farmers dealing in dairy, maize and potatoes in four counties are to reduce post-harvest losses through linking them with potential buyers.

The digital platform called the Kenya Rural Transformation Centre for Digital Platform (KRTCDP), it has integrated traceability system to ensure farmers adhere to both local and international safety standards.

The platform funded by the African Development Bank is currently being piloted in Baringo, Nakuru, Narok and Nyandarua counties. Plans are in place to expand this capability to additional food crops.

“The platform will ensure that cooperatives gain visibility in the market. Each member will have access to farm inputs and direct market connections which will address issues such as post-harvest management, extension services and weather,” said Director of Research and Innovation at CUK, Professor Ken Waweru.

The technology will allow onboarded farmers to receive mobile phone notifications about the quantity of produce delivered, boosting transparency in cooperative operations.

Overall post-harvest losses in Kenya’s agriculture sector are estimated at between 20 per cent and 30 per cent, the horticulture sub-sector records losses of up to 60 per cent, according to the regional body.

Kenya is also among five countries in the region that have the backing of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to cut post-harvest losses in the horticulture sector.

This is under the COMESA- EAC Horticultural Accelerator (CEHA) programme targets to improve production and distribution, access to quality seeds, training, establish standards and traceability, and strengthen post-harvest management while improving gains in the value chain.

The five-year programme targeted at Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia is keen to cut the losses in horticulture to 40 per cent, or lower.

It targets potatoes, avocados and onion farming with Kenya being the first country COMESA has launched the drive, with a goal of achieving a trade value of $25 million (Sh3.3 billion) for fruits and vegetables within the Comesa-EAC region by 2031.

Estimates indicate avocados; onions and Irish potatoes can generate a combined US$230 million (Sh29.9 billion) annually for approximately 450,000 smallholder farmers of a minimum farm size of 0.4 hectare with 60 avocado trees, or 1 hectare for onion farmers.

The COMESA initiative aims to propel global exports from US$416 million (Sh54.1 billion) to an impressive $ 950 million (Sh123.5 billion) over the next seven years.

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