Farmers in Sipili to benefit through value chain workshop

Bob Aston

The Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and Kilimo Biashara Promoters, will hold a tree tomato and tomato value chain workshop on September 23-24, 2015 at Sipili Catholic Church Hall in Laikipia West Sub County.

The value chain workshop will seek to address various interventions in the two value chains that include; crop risk mitigation, post-harvest handling, warehouse receipts linked to loans, local value addition, linkages to markets, aggregation, and value chain linkages.

ALIN is keen in promoting the value chain approach as this can promote inclusive economic growth as it allows the identification of specific advantage points along a chain, reducing the average cost per unit by increasing the number of units produced.

Farmers in Matwiku area of  Githiga Ward packing tomatoes

Promotion of Tomato Value Chain is particularly important for farmers in Wangwachi area who are not reaping maximum benefit from the value chain. 

The workshop will also enable farmers to learn how to use SOKO+ sms service to trade. The knowledge exchange and market access solution enables traders, farmers and other users to buy sell, and get information using SMS.

The fast growing tree tomato or “matunda ya damu” in Kiswahili are resistant to most diseases and pests. Its production has been on the increase in Sipili area as most farmers diversify to fruit farming. The workshop will help farmers to embrace best agricultural practices that can enable them to get better returns in tomato and tree tomato farming.

ALIN has strategically focused its efforts to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities in East Africa through delivery of practical information using modern technologies.

On behalf of ALIN, we would like to welcome farmers to the tree tomato and tomato value chain workshop on September 23-24, 2015 at Sipili Catholic Church Hall from 9:00 am.