Micro Enterprises Support programme Trust (MESPT) has officially handed over a multi-million mango juice processing plant to Malindi Natural Juice Processors, thereby opening an opportunity of the mango famers to utilize the factory to tap into its benefits.
The ceremony which was witnessed by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and Senior MESPT officials led by their chairman Noah Meely took place at the factory that is located near BP in Malindi town.
While handling over the factory Mr Meely anoucned that MESPT had for the past 15 years, been involved in the development of several agriculture value chains projects focusing on market access and financial linkage within Kilifi County.
“It is a pleasure to be here in Malindi for this occasion of the official handing over ceremony of the Malindi Natural Juice Processors Limited. This is a project that MESPT has been supporting through a partnership with Malindi Farmers’ Co-operative Society,” said Mr Meely.
He said that his organization came to the rescue of mango farmers after they discovered that they (farmers) were struggling to sell their produce after harvesting due to the perishable nature of the fruits.
“This is in addition to other challenges they face including inadequate markets, low prices, and exploitation by the brokers and this was worsened by the lack of a processing factory. The Malindi Farmers’ Co-operative Society therefore wrote a proposal to MESPT to support them minimize post-harvest losses and secure a reliable market. This necessitated the establishment of Malindi Natural Juice Processors (MNJP) Limited by the Malindi Farmers’ Co-operative Society in 2011, through the support of MESPT,” he said.
In facilitating the idea, MESPT initiated the project under a financing agreement totaling to Sh164million between 2011 to 2020. We successfully supported the setting up of the factory and have been injecting working capital for its operations,” said Mr Meely.
He said that the handing over ceremony coincided with the coming to an end of the Green Growth and employment programme 2017-2020 which has been supporting mango & Coconut value chains in Kilifi County.
“I am excited to announce that through the continued support from DANIDA, we have been awarded a five- year programme dubbed green jobs in Agriculture with a funding of Sh1billion to be implemented in 12 counties,” he said.
Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi was upbeat following the handing over of the factory and vowed to support the farmers realize their dreams.
“We applaud MESPT for writing off debts owed by the Malindi Natural Juice Processors and handing over their mango juice processing plant to be run by the Malindi Farmers’ Cooperative. This makes it possible for the County Government to extend a helping hand to the cooperative in value addition, agro-processing and advance credit and extension services, all with the aim of improving the farmers’ lot,” he said.
Governor Kingi further added that his administration will remain committed to strengthening the cooperatives sector to empower Kilifi farmers and give them a steady market for their produce, add value and reduce post-harvest losses to boost their income.
“This is in line with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda especially with regard to food security and manufacturing and therefore I urge women and youths in Kilifi County to form cooperatives and self-help groups to benefit from the County Government Subsidy Loan (Mbegu Fund), to promote their businesses and boost their income,” he said.
