Meru sets sights on produce value addition through co-ops

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi (left) with County Executive for Trade and Cooperatives Maingi Mugambi and Deputy governor Titus Ntuchiu. [Wainaina Ndung’u, Standard

Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has urged cooperatives to venture into value addition of perishable commodities to increase farmers’ income.

Speaking at the launch of the county’s co-operative societies forum, Kiraitu (above) said they were targeting macadamia, potatoes, milk, avocado, bananas, miraa, tea and coffee.

He said they are looking at providing an enabling environment in which savings and credit cooperatives could mobilise capital and venture into investment opportunities.

The governor further said his government wanted cooperatives to be led by visionary and an all-inclusive governance system for them to effectively serve farmers.

Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu echoed Kiraitu’s sentiments saying the county was committed to empowering the cooperatives by helping them put proper structures in place.

“We are currently the leading producers of bananas in the country. Our aim is to strengthen the cooperatives sector so that societies will grow their capital base and move to the next level of value addition for the produce to fetch better prices and more funds for our farmers,” said Ntuchiu.

Officials from different cooperatives who attended the event said the entities had experienced huge growth over the years.

Two management committee members from each cooperative society registered in the area will be sitting in cooperatives forums.