M a r k e t N e w s
Kenya: North Rift Bloc to Export Fresh Produce
Posted on : Wednesday, 4th November 2015
The North Rift Economic Bloc formed by eight counties is viable and will start exporting fresh produce, the chairman has said.
Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu governor) said the bloc will fight poverty and economically empower more than 15 million people.
The eight counties produce 30 per cent of the flowers exported from Kenya.
Mandago said they will work towards increasing production of horticultural crops for export.
"The bloc is a very viable plan, which we believe will help us benefit from economies of scale in both production and marketing of agricultural produce," he said.
"We plan to have two or three cargo planes operating at the Eldoret Airport weekly. We can only do this if we come together and ensure our farmers produce the quantity required."
The counties in the bloc are Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana, Baringo and Samburu.
The bloc will hold its first investor conference in Eldoret town between November 18 and 21, to be officially opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Source : allafrica.com
