TAITA TAVETA, August 14, 2026 — Three farmer cooperatives in Taita Taveta County have received Ksh 29.9 million in grants to strengthen dairy and banana value chains, reduce post-harvest losses and help farmers secure better prices for their produce.
The grants, disbursed under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project [NAVCDP], will support processing, packaging, market access and other investments aimed at helping farmers move away from selling raw produce.
Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, while handing over the grants, urged farmers to join cooperatives to pool resources and invest in value addition.
“When each farmer joins a cooperative society, you’re putting together resources to ensure that your produce isn’t going to leave in raw form but as finished products that fetch the maximum prices, whether sold locally or across the country’s borders,” Mwadime said.
Tagho Dairy Cooperative received the largest share, Ksh 14.9 million, to finance pasteurisation, processing and packaging facilities.
The cooperative’s chairperson, Job Mwakesi, said the investment would help members reduce losses associated with selling raw milk, particularly during periods when supply exceeds demand.
“We’re looking to establish an entire milk chain of pasteurising, processing and packaging so that we no longer have to sell raw or at throwaway prices for fear of our milk going bad,” Mwakesi said.
Taita Taveta Banana [TATABA] FCS Limited received Ksh 8.6 million to support banana production and solarise its banana ripening chambers in Voi.
Its chairperson, Ndelejai Msangi, said high electricity costs and inadequate ripening facilities had contributed to significant post-harvest losses.
The third beneficiary, Mwafugha Dairy FCS Limited in Wumingu/Kishushe, received Ksh 5.81 million to support milk aggregation and artificial insemination (AI) services.
The cooperative said the interventions would address challenges that have affected its operations and contributed to low returns for dairy farmers.
NAVCDP County Project Coordinator Andrew Mbinga urged farmers across the county to join ward-based cooperatives, saying collective marketing would strengthen their bargaining power and ensure they receive fair value for their produce.
The county government said the investments are also aligned with national efforts to boost grassroots economic productivity, increase household incomes and create employment opportunities, particularly for young people and other vulnerable groups.
https://thecooperator.news/kenya-baringo-county-records-sharp-decline-in-milk-production/
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