Kisii Governor James Ongwae has urged farmers in the county to embrace new and modern value addition farming technologies, to avert post-harvest handling wastage of their surplus produce during bumper harvest.
Ongwae clarified that through value addition to the surplus farm produce, farmers will benefit immensely through embracing of modern value addition technologies to ensure their surplus farm produce is preserved to lengthen their shelf life until their demand rises.
Speaking at Agricultural Training Centre in Kisii Town during the county's Annual Farmers field Day organised and hosted by ATC, Ongwae tipped farmers on the importance of embracing modern value addition technologies to preserve their surplus farm produce for the next market seasons to avoid waste during post-harvest handling.
Ongwae clarified that value addition of various farm produce commodities will not only empower farmers economically, but will also address challenges posed by oversupply in the market which leads to market pressure and post-harvest wastage.
“With modern value addition technologies, farmers can now rest assured of preserving their surplus farm produce to lengthen their shelf life, awaiting their demand in the market to avert wastage of surplus perishable agricultural produce,” stated Ongwae.
Ongwae challenged agricultural extension officers across the county to train local farmers on new post-harvest handling and value addition technologies, to avert wastage and maximise returns for the farmers out of their agricultural investments.