Nyandarua County activates 500MT potato cold storage facility in Kaimbaga to curb post-harvest losses. Governor Badilisha’s initiative supports 10,000 farmers with modern storage and clean seeds.

Nyandarua County Govt. Activates Kaimbaga Cold Storage to Curb Post-Harvest Losses

In a major boost for potato farmers, Nyandarua County Governor H.E. Dr. Moses N. Badilisha Kiarie has operationalized a 500-metric-tonne cold storage facility in Kaimbaga Ward through a partnership between Africa Mega AgriCorp PLC (AMAC) and the Micro Small Enterprise Authority (MSEA).

Speaking during the launch, Trade, Co-operative Development, Industrialization, and Partnerships CECM Hon. John Muiru—representing the Governor—announced that over 10,000 members of the Nyandarua Fresh Produce Farmers Union will now preserve their potatoes in the facility, significantly reducing post-harvest losses.

A Long-Awaited Solution for Farmers

Governor Kiarie prioritized the completion of the facility immediately after taking office in August 2022, recognizing its potential to stabilize potato prices and enhance food security. With Nyandarua being Kenya’s leading potato producer, the cold storage is expected to:

  • Extend shelf life of potatoes, minimizing spoilage.

  • Regulate market supply, preventing price crashes during peak harvests.

  • Increase profitability for smallholder farmers by enabling strategic sales.

Expansion Plans and Farmer Support Initiatives

The Governor is now exploring similar cold storage facilities across all five sub-counties to further strengthen Nyandarua’s agricultural value chain. His administration has also:

  • Deployed ward-based agri-preneurs to provide localized farming support.

  • Partnered with soil testing experts to optimize crop productivity.

  • Distributed subsidized fertilizer to farmers across all 25 wards.

Boosting Potato Seed Production

To ensure sustainable production, the county is rapidly multiplying clean potato seed varieties at the Agriculture Training Center in Ol’Jororok, complementing the National Youth Service’s (NYS) seed multiplication efforts at the Tumaini Farm in Ol’Kalou Sub-County.

Ms. Ann Kuria, Nyandarua’s MSEA lead, emphasized that the facility aligns with national efforts to modernize agriculture and empower small-scale farmers.

A Model for Kenya’s Agri-Transformation

Nyandarua’s cold storage initiative sets a precedent for other potato-growing regions, demonstrating how public-private partnerships and county-led investments can revolutionize post-harvest management.

Farmers’ Takeaway:
✔ Reduced losses = Higher incomes
✔ Better storage = Year-round market access
✔ Quality seeds = Improved yields

With these interventions, Governor Kiarie’s administration is positioning Nyandarua as a hub for agri-innovation, ensuring farmers reap maximum benefits from their harvests.

https://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1746197472477-1024x683.jpghttps://farmerstrend.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/1746197472477-150x150.jpgFarmersTrendFarming NewsNyandarua County activates 500MT potato cold storage facility in Kaimbaga to curb post-harvest losses. Governor Badilisha's initiative supports 10,000 farmers with modern storage and clean seeds.In a major boost for potato farmers, Nyandarua County Governor H.E. Dr. Moses N. Badilisha Kiarie has operationalized a 500-metric-tonne cold storage facility in...New Generation Culture in Agriculture