Pineapple factory launched in Kenya

by Peter Mutai

The Kenyan government has commissioned the construction of a modern pineapple processing factory in Bureti District.

The Sh50 million factory at Monoru area in Roret Division will have the capacity to process more than 56,000 metric tonnes of pineapples annually. The Ministry of Industrialisation will spearhead the work.

Industrialisation Assistant Minister Ndiiritu Muriithi said construction of the factory is expected to be completed in the next three months. He said already Sh25 million has been released for the project.

Last year, pineapple farmers in the District produced 56,000 metric tonnes of the crop that earned them more than Sh654 million. The bulk of the crop was sold in the country.

...once the factory is in operation, the production of pineapples is expected to rise from the current 56,000 metric tonnes to more than 170,000 metric tonnes annually. The district has the potential to produce 500,000 metric tonnes annually.

The farmers have been counting huge losses during the peak season.

The Standard