It will be a boost to area farmers who undertake large scale pineapple growing, but lack markets or get exploited by brokers.
Governor James Nyoro said they have set aside Sh 20 million for the establishment of the factory at Gakoe area, where pineapple farming is prominent.
He said they are in the process of looking for an investor who they will partner with to complete the processing plant.
“Already, consultants are on the ground to come up with the location of the factory, the exact amount needed and the type of factory to be built. Thereafter, construction works will begin,” he said.
He was addressing pineapple farmers in Gatukuyu market yesterday.
He said the plant will enable the farmers to have direct access to the market because they will sell the pineapples directly to the factory.
He said they will value-add the pineapples to make juice and other products that can attract good prices both in the local market and internationally.
The farmers expressed relief saying the factory will help rid the area off brokers who they termed as the biggest challenges they face.
Felistas Wambui, one of the farmers said the factory will revolutionize pineapple farming in the area and give them a cash crop that they can depend on for a living.
“Most of the time, we don’t benefit from the pineapples that we plant as brokers have completely exploited us by buying the pineapples cheaply,” said Wambui.
Other farmers led by Francis Gitau called on the government to accelerate the completion of the Kariminu2 dam to help them get water to irrigate their pineapples.
They said at times, their pineapples wilt or they get poor quality pineapples due to water shortages experienced in the area.
The multibillion dam constructed in the same Subcounty is almost 50 per cent complete and is expected to address water challenges in the area as well as other sub counties of Juja, Ruiru, Thika and Nairobi.