Horticultural farmers in Elgeyo Marakwet County are set to benefit from a state-of-the-art pack house that aims to address long-standing challenges in produce handling and marketing. The facility, located at Kombabelio in Kapchemutwa Ward, was officially inaugurated in a ceremony attended by local leaders and stakeholders.
The pack house, constructed in partnership with Farm Africa, a leading charity supporting smallholder farmers, is a 15-tonne capacity facility designed to help farmers increase packaging efficiency and improve the marketability of their produce. It features a cold room and a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) center, ensuring that the produce meets international standards.
For years, farmers in the region, particularly those growing snowpeas, sugar snaps, and French beans, have faced difficulties in reaching local and international markets due to poor handling, storage, and transportation conditions. The new pack house will eliminate the need for farmers to wait for refrigerated lorries to collect their crops, reducing post-harvest losses and enabling timely transportation to markets.
During the event, Farm Africa’s Country Programmes Manager, Mr. George Ochuodo, expressed optimism about the impact of the pack house on local farming communities. “This facility will empower smallholder farmers, improve the quality of their produce, and open doors to larger, more lucrative markets,” Ochuodo said.
Also present at the inauguration were County Commissioner John Korir, Kapchemutwa Ward MCA Steve Cheruiyot, Kenya Horticultural Exporters’ representative Dickson Kimathi, and various county officials including CECs Edwin Kibor and Thomas Maiyo, COs Elizabeth Korir and Edwin Komen, and staff from the Agriculture Department.
The establishment of the pack house is seen as a critical step towards enhancing the region's agricultural sector, improving livelihoods for farmers, and fostering economic growth in Elgeyo Marakwet County.