Farmers in Kenya looking to sell directly to consumers and get rid of the middleman, could have their wish by July 2019 when a “modern” farmers’ market will be open for business.
The Nairobi Farmers Market, which is currently under construction in Runda Estate, off Kiambu Road, will contain 45 stalls exclusively operated by farmers.
This borrows a leaf from the international practice where most cities have farmers markets that supply produce direct from the farms to the consumers. While some cities provide temporary selling space for different farmers on a day-to-day basis, others lease out permanent shops that are operated by individual farmers who take the space on a long-term basis.
Munene Mashine, the Project Manager said “We are essentially addressing the contradiction where farm-gate prices for cabbages, for example, are less than 10 Kenyan shillings a piece but the consumer pays 60 Kenyan shillings,”.
All the farmers and shop owners will be required to submit to regular inspections and certification, similar to what is required of export produce. This is in order to safeguard and ensure the traceability of produce and guarantee good agricultural practices,
Mr. Miner added that, “We are creating a facility that will be a big help for both the farmer and the consumer.”
The proposed market will also contain sections for fresh produce, beef, fish and poultry products, dairy produce and a grains section.
Financed by local investor, United Agromarts Limited, the market developers say they will encourage stall owners to contract and supervise small-scale growers to ensure sufficient supplies within the set quality guidelines while also spreading the benefits of the market to more farmers.
By aggregating produce from the many farmers in the market, they hope to create a secondary outlet for supplying institutional customers such as hotels, restaurants, schools and hospitals.
The Nairobi market will also have a restaurant and a nyama choma outlet.
Nairobi Farmers Market will also be driven by an app that will enable online shopping as well as home to home deliveries.
