Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki yesterday embarked on an inspection tour of Meru County’s Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP), in Ruiri Rwa Reera, Buuri Constituency to review the construction progress and overall readiness of the facility.
During the tour, the Deputy President who was accompanied by Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma, Senator Kathuri Murungi and a majority of MCAs led by their speaker Ayub Bundi reviewed the construction progress which is part of a larger national plan to boost agro-industrial development at the county level.
Professor Kindiki said the center is designed to focus on key agricultural value chains and support activities such as aggregation, sorting, grading, and packaging of produce, which will majorly involve the youth in daily operations.
This, in turn, will not only open up employment opportunities but also strengthen market access for local farmers.
The Meru CAIP is currently 80 percent complete and it’s scheduled for completion and operationalization by December 31, 2025.
Kindiki said farm produce from all corners of Meru will be put together awaiting fair prices with value addition being an option for products that may be exported to foreign markets.
“This will cushion farmers from exploitation by brokers who have been taking advantage of the perishable state of some of the farm produce. As part of the Kenya kwanza manifesto, we are constructing 47 CAIPs in each county and this is one of the 13 that are at an advanced stage,” said Professor Kindiki.
He said Governor Mutuma will be required to sit with the national government officers together with cooperative leaders to select the produce that will be taken to the industrial park since not everything can be accommodated there.
“We will choose about three or four value chains common in Meru and we will get a private sector operator who will buy the produce and if the price is low, we will store it and give farmers receipts to wait for the prices to go up. And in return, the cooperatives will give farmers an advance to meet some of their expenses before stabilization of prices,” said Professor Kindiki.
He said they will require value addition for products and proper packaging to attract better prices in the markets, and this will be done in every county. “The National government will go out of its way to look for markets and experts for value addition and in turn create job opportunities in packaging, sorting, blending among others for young people within the counties,” he explained.
“Our work as government is to look for job opportunities for our youthful generation and profitability for Meru farmers for their agricultural produce and this is one of the many ways of doing it,” said Kindiki.
The 13 CAIPs, he added will be completed by the end of this year for President William Ruto to commission them.
By Dickson Mwiti
