By Enock Ndayala

More than 20,000 mango farmers across the country are set to access international markets after the Kenya Agribusiness and Agroindustry Alliance (KAAA) and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce inked a deal that would help mango growers to access the markets. The initiative is supported by Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).

KAAA Chief Executive, Ms. Lucy Muchoki says the alliance will create linkages between Chinese investors and Kenyan small scale farmers thus increasing yields for farmers who were previously growing conventional mango varieties.

Speaking at an event to showcase the partnership, Muchoki said that Kenya produces four types of mangoes of which are the biggest and the sweetest around the globe, further mentioning that Mexican mangoes cannot compare to the Kenyan mango, which is three times the yield of Mexico.

The event was focused on ensuring mango farmers across the country get valuable market for their produce locally and internationally.

During the affair, 50,000 kilograms of mango produce were bought from the farmers by a Chinese company based in Kenya.

Muchoki said Chinese companies will help Kenyan mango farmers to produce quality juice, which can be exported and help reduce post-harvest losses and poor prices.

Kenyan farmers have long decried insufficient returns from their mangoes, despite the agricultural commodity fetching record-breaking prices in international markets. Low returns for the country have been due to little or no value addition.