French beans from Kenya destined for the European Union will be subjected to more stringent checks. Hosea Machuki, the chief executive of Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK), said the produce will undergo more physical checks effective end of May.
“FPEAK would like to bring to your attention that following a meeting of the European Commission held recently and subsequent publication in the official journal of the EU, Kenyan beans will be subjected to a 10 per cent frequency of identity and physical checks effective May 27,” he said in a letter to members.
Machuki said that the decision by EU was due to high frequency of non-compliance of the Kenyan beans with the relevant requirements provided.
The Nakuru county government is working on a multimillion-shilling programme that seeks to revive the pyrethrum sector and boost avocado farming. Chief officer in charge of agriculture Joel Kibet said the county government has started distributing avocado and pyrethrum seedlings to farmers.
“We have given out 173,000 avocado seedlings to 10,000 farmers, each of whom received 17 seedlings. We are concentrating on avocado because of the rainy season,” said Kibet, adding that they are also giving about 10 million pyrethrum seedlings. “Each farmer will get about 5,500 seedlings to plant on a quarter-acre,” he said.
Source: nation.co.ke