Kericho County is seeking to reposition agriculture as a key driver of rural industrial growth through renewed efforts to operationalize the stalled Roret Pineapple Processing Plant.
The plant is a flagship project expected to enhance value addition, expand market access for farmers, and accelerate economic diversification in the county.
The revival of the processing facility marks a significant shift in the county’s development strategy as local authorities increasingly embrace agro-processing as a catalyst for wealth creation, job generation and sustainable agricultural commercialization.
With agriculture remaining the backbone of Kericho’s economy, the county leadership is now placing greater emphasis on industrial value chains aimed at retaining more economic value within farming communities instead of relying heavily on the sale of raw produce.
Governor Dr. Eric Mutai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) to fast-track the installation and commissioning of industrial processing systems at the Roret facility in Bureti Sub-County, in a move aimed at strengthening agro-processing and boosting value addition in the region.
The agreement grants KIRDI the mandate to undertake the design, procurement, supply, installation, testing and operationalization of specialized processing equipment at the factory, which has remained inactive for years despite heavy public investment and growing expectations among farmers.
County officials described the partnership as a strategic intervention aimed at unlocking the economic potential of horticulture while strengthening the county’s transition towards agro-based industrialization.
Once operational, the facility is expected to process pineapples and other horticultural produce into finished consumer products including juice, jam, sauces and bottled water, significantly enhancing the commercial value of farm produce and creating additional income streams across the agricultural value chain.
Technical documents released during the signing ceremony indicate that the factory will house a juice processing line with a capacity of 600 kilograms per hour, translating to approximately 10 tonnes per day.
The plant will also include a jam and sauces processing line capable of handling 100 kilograms per batch alongside a water bottling unit with an estimated production capacity of 5,000 litres per day.
In a move aimed at ensuring operational sustainability throughout the year, the factory will adopt a multi-fruit and vegetable processing model allowing it to handle pineapples, passion fruits, mangoes, tomatoes, chilies and other horticultural produce depending on seasonal availability.
Agricultural economists observe that such diversification is critical in stabilizing factory operations, reducing idle production periods and enhancing long-term commercial viability of agro-processing investments.
The project is also expected to reduce post-harvest losses that have for years undermined profitability among smallholder farmers in Bureti and neighbouring areas.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Governor Mutai said the county government was committed to transforming agriculture from a subsistence undertaking into a commercially competitive sector capable of generating employment, attracting investment and driving industrial growth.
“The future of agriculture lies in value addition and market-driven production. Counties must move beyond the traditional model of selling raw produce and invest in processing industries that create jobs, expand markets and increase farmer earnings,” said the governor.
He noted that the county administration was focusing on establishment of integrated agricultural value chains linking farmers to processing industries, financial services and structured markets.
“For many years, pineapple farmers in this region have produced large volumes of quality produce but continued to earn little because there has been no local processing infrastructure. This project seeks to reverse that trend by creating a reliable market while enhancing the value of agricultural produce,” he added.
Kericho’s economy has historically revolved around tea production, with the crop serving as the county’s primary economic backbone for decades.
However, changing global market dynamics, fluctuating tea prices and rising production costs have in recent years prompted increased investment in horticultural diversification as farmers seek alternative and more resilient income streams.
Pineapple farming has steadily expanded across Bureti Sub County, particularly in Roret, Kisiara, Cheborge and surrounding areas where favourable climatic conditions support large-scale horticultural production.
Agricultural officers estimate that thousands of households in the region depend directly or indirectly on pineapple farming for income and livelihoods.
Despite rising production levels, the sector has continued to face major structural challenges including inadequate storage facilities, fragmented market systems, weak aggregation networks and absence of local processing capacity.
As a result, farmers frequently incur heavy losses during peak harvesting seasons due to oversupply and exploitation by brokers who purchase produce at low farm-gate prices before reselling it in urban markets at significantly higher margins.
Local farmers say the operationalization of the processing plant could help stabilize prices, strengthen bargaining power and improve income predictability for growers.
“The biggest challenge has always been the market. Farmers harvest quality produce but lack a processing facility that can absorb the surplus. During bumper harvests, many incur losses because brokers dictate prices. A functioning factory will change the economic outlook of this region,” said a farmer who attended the signing ceremony.
Under the partnership agreement, KIRDI will also provide technical training for factory personnel and farmers in areas including product technologies, plant operation and maintenance, food safety management, hygiene standards and business development services.
The institute will further facilitate certification of products through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to ensure compliance with national quality and safety requirements and enable access to formal retail and regional markets.
KIRDI Acting Director General Kelvin Khisa said value addition remains one of the most effective pathways for increasing returns from agriculture while promoting industrial growth at the grassroots.
“Counties continue to lose substantial economic value because agricultural produce leaves farms in raw form. Agro-processing enables local economies to retain greater value within production areas while creating employment and stimulating enterprise development,” said Khisa.
He said KIRDI would also provide six months of post-training technical support in addition to advisory services on plant design, utility requirements and statutory compliance to ensure efficient and competitive factory operations.
Economic analysts project that successful operationalization of the Roret Pineapple Processing Plant could stimulate growth in auxiliary sectors including transportation, packaging, logistics, retail distribution, equipment maintenance and small-scale enterprise development.
The project is also expected to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for youth and women while increasing circulation of income within rural economies.
County officials further disclosed that plans are underway to expand pineapple production through distribution of improved seedlings and farmer sensitization programmes aimed at guaranteeing adequate and consistent raw material supply for the factory.
For many residents of Bureti, the revival of the processing plant represents more than an agricultural investment.
It is increasingly being viewed as a long-awaited economic lifeline capable of revitalizing rural enterprise, strengthening agricultural commercialization and positioning Kericho as an emerging agro-industrial hub within the South Rift region.
by Gilbert Mutai
