Mango Association To Help Kenyan Mango Farmers Access Markets -

Traders, farmers and other stakeholders from 14 Kenyan counties have formed a mango growers association. The assosiction is known as Assosiation Of Kenya Mango Traders (AKMT)

Its major purpose is to:

Promote the commercial farming of mangoes
Bargain for better prices for their members.

The founding CEO Linah Mukami says, “Mainstreaming of the mangoes as a key cash crop will strengthen its value chain through the establishment of a unified marketing platform.”

She said AKMT will engage the national and county governments to support seedling production of the popular Kent, Ngowe and Apple mango varieties:

“The mango association will work with county governments to:

Abolish multiple and high tax points,
Help farmers address issues of mango pests like fruit flies and weevils,
Improve markets structure, and poor feeder roads
Promote of mango consumption across Kenya.”

AKMT chairman Julius Njuki said 50 self-help groups had since been enrolled.

They joined the associaltion with a view to bringing farmers together to demand better prices for their produce.

Mango farming is done at a commercial scale in Kwale, Tana River, Taita Taveta, Murang’a, Elgeyo Marakwet, Lamu, Kilifi, Machakos, Garissa, Makueni, Kitui, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, and Meru counties.