Horticultural News January - February issue

poor post-harvest management practices.
Sally Kosgey, Minister Romano Kiome PS, Alfred Serem, HCDA MD W Songa, Agric Secretary,
The Horticultural Crops Development Authority
(HCDA) has been mandated by a new order to regulate
and manage Kenya’s fresh produce industry. Captured
in a Special Issue of the Kenya Gazette Supplement
No. 166 dated December 23, 2011, the legal notice
(No. 190, of the Agriculture Act Cap 318) swallows the
previous five clauses under which the industry was
governed.
The changes recognize the Horticulture Research
Fund as a legal entity; requires all traders to be
6 proven Functions/powers and innovative of the technologies Board that planning will address purposes; crop protection
The and board post-harvest shall have management the powers challenges. c) Provide Demonstrations specialised are currently
to
underway
promote,
to
coordinate
introduce
and
farmers to bagging
horticulture
of banana banches
extension
to protect
them against pests and diseases during growth and development.
facilitate the development of the services;
Amiran banana bags are known to have an anti- microbial effect and are
industry but without prejudice to d) appoint agents for the
effective in the control of insect pests such as thrips.
the generality of the forgoing, the implementation or
board may –
performance of any function
a) advice the government
of the authority under this
and the industry on matters Order;
related to horticulture
e) Directly or indirectly support
production and marketing;
the establishment of fruit tree
b) Collect and collate data,
mother blocks;
maintain a database and f) regulate the horticulture
disseminate information on nurseries, production,
horticultural activities for
post-harvest handling
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HORTICULTURAL CROPS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Serving the Horticulture Industry
Increase your income by protecting your
bananas new from Horticulture pests and diseases; Order and by
only selling when the price is √
Bagging of Banana Batches
Although a lot of work has been done to promote production of bananas
in Kenya, crop protection still remains a major challenge in the production
of high quality bananas. HCDA and Amiran Kenya Ltd are introducing
HHO OR TR ITC IUC LT U LT U RU ARL ANL ENW ES WI S A uI gj au ns Tu -as er py T - e MF EB Be r u2 a0 1r 1y
2 0 1 2
Banana Production Profile
It is currently estimated that Kenya is among the major producers of
bananas in Africa with over 83, 462 Ha. under production which account
for 1, 583, 143 MT. with a market value of over Ksh. 18 billion annually.
However out of the entire production, a lot is lost through pest
and disease infestation, poor cultural plant management practices and
registered by HCDA, essentially eliminating briefcase
buyers and will set standards for produce handling
and transportation.
Henceforth, horticulture nurseries will be established
under the supervision of HCDA, while the corporation
will work closely with institutions like the Kenya Plant
Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), the Pest Control
Products Board (PCPB), the Kenya Revenue Authority
(KRA) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) on
matters requiring cross-reference.
and marketing of
horticultural crops and
produce;
g) Promote development
and adoption of standards
for labelling, packaging,
grading, transporting
and sorting horticultural
produce in compliance
with local and international
standards;
h) Impose levies, fees or charges
on producers, dealers and
nursery operators as the
Ministry may approve;
i) Promote the establishment
and use of production,
processing and marketing
infrastructure for horticultural
crops;
j) Facilitate marketing of
horticultural products in
the local and international
markets ; and
k) Provide for any other
matter in furtherance of the
development of horticurtural
crops or conducive to the
exercise of any of its powers
under this Order.
A farmer is being assisted by a HCDA officer to install Amiran Kenya
Ltd banana bag on a new banana batch in Meru