State to increase superfoods production through co-operatives

The government is planning to collaborate with the co-operatives sector to position Kenya as a leading superfood producer and exporter.

Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Simon Chelugui said the government is zeroing in on the Ksh 22.4 trillion global superfoods market as part of the agricultural transformation deliverables under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

“The government is focusing on sustainable agricultural value chain reforms, including global market access for Kenyan avocado, macadamia, and blueberry farmers, by harnessing the latent power of co-op societies and MSMEs as the world’s enthusiasm and demand for super foods continue to grow,” said Chelugui.

According to the CS, the government will partner with the private sector with leading growers of superfoods to provide the needed technical capacity building for local farmers under the Co-operatives movement.

“Our co-operative societies and other MSME Agri-business players have an opportunity to learn and forge partnerships with large players in the market , who are willing to provide capacity building in farmer training, marketing, and extension services to enable us play in the top league as quality superfoods producers and exporters,” he added.

Chelugui said there is room for improvement in the export sector if only global standards relating to crop husbandry, traceability, and sustainability were maintained.

According to research firm IMARC Group, superfood market size is projected to increase by 4.6pc by 2032 to Ksh 34.2 trillion.