Kenya, TradeMark Africa launch export hub to curb fruit losses in Makueni
The new facility aims to reduce wastage, improve packaging standards, and help farmers in Makueni County access international markets.
KENYA – The Makueni County Government, in Kenya, has partnered with TradeMark Africa to set up an Export Supply Hub (ESH) that will help farmers in the region get better returns for their produce.
The deal was signed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and is part of the EU-funded Business Environment and Export Enhancing Programme (EU-BEEEP). The hub will focus on mangoes, avocados, and French beans.
The county produces about 245,000 metric tons of mangoes every year, but a large part of this goes to waste. Limited access to markets and weak storage systems are some of the main reasons.
The new hub is expected to change this by improving how produce is collected, stored, and processed.
“The Export Supply Hub will not only reduce losses but also create a sustainable ecosystem that meets international sanitary and phytosanitary standards,” said Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.
The facility will bring together several key services in one place. These include aggregation, cold storage, packaging, and digital tracking to ensure products can be traced back to their source. The system will also raise confidence among international buyers.
Improved Access to Markets
The hub will connect to the Standard Gauge Railway to make transport easier and faster. On-site inspection and certification services will also be available to help farmers meet export conditions.
The county will set up several collection points within Makueni and neighboring areas to keep the supply chain steady.
TMA’s Country Director, Lillian Mwai-Ndegwa, said that the hub aims to support more than just trade. “This Hub is about much more than market access, but also building resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness for our smallholder farmers,” she said.
To support this goal, farmers will receive training on how to grow export-ready produce and add value to their harvests.
Recent Progress in the Region
This latest move comes just months after Makueni opened a horticultural aggregation center and packhouse near Wote Police Station. That facility was designed to improve the county’s mango trade by cutting post-harvest losses and helping farmers reach both export and local markets.
“The aggregation center is equipped to handle significant quantities of mangoes, ensuring efficient sorting, grading, and packaging for both local and international markets,” Governor Kilonzo said during the center’s launch.
He also mentioned that farmers could expect better prices. Export-quality mangoes were being bought at Kshs. 12 (USD 0.076) per piece, while those for local markets fetched Kshs. 15 (USD 0.095) to Kshs. 19 (USD 0.121) per kilogram.
Farmers were encouraged to inform their ward agricultural officers once their produce was ready. This step ensures faster links with buyers and smooth delivery to the new hub.
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