By George Munene

Kirinyaga County farmers are set to benefit from the construction of four new markets that will curtail losses caused by long farm-to-market wait times for avocado and tomato farmers.

The aggregation centers that are set to be completed in the next three months will be based in Githure, Gathoge, Karumandi, and Makutano constituencies and bring to 15 the number of modern fresh produce markets in the county.

These centers will offer farmers and traders an open-air market that is more appropriate to their current selling points by the roadside and on walkways.

The County’s Governor Anne Waiguru announced plans to establish an avocado collection and packaging center, where the county’s produce will be processed, packaged and branded in readiness for local and export markets.

A tomato factory will also be constructed to enable processing for local and export markets. Waiguru said the factory will enable farmers to earn more money from tomato products and save them from post-harvest losses.

In anticipation of increased demand, farmers have been supported to establish nurseries where they are propagating quality tomato and avocado seedlings for sale to other farmers within and outside the county.