On 1st October 2025, the Kagacha Farmers Cooperative, in collaboration with the NAVCDP under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (MoALF) – Nyandarua County, conducted a training session on Agri-Produce Value Addition at Kanguo Catholic Church Hall. The activity, implemented under the ASEC Project’s Value Chain Support component, brought together 38 farmers (13 males and 25 females) for a practical learning session aimed at improving post-harvest management and income generation.
The training focused on equipping farmers with fundamental skills and knowledge in value addition for fruits and vegetables. Key demonstrations covered solar drying, packaging, food hygiene, and preservation techniques, providing participants with practical insights on how to extend shelf life and improve the market value of their produce. Notably, the strong participation of women reflected a growing interest and potential for household-level adoption of value addition practices.
As a result of the training, farmers reported gaining new understanding of how to add value before selling their produce, and the cooperative initiated plans to explore collective value addition ventures. The session also sparked increased interest in cottage-level agro-processing enterprises, signaling a positive shift toward more profitable and sustainable agricultural practices.
However, the facilitators observed a few challenges, including limited time for hands-on demonstrations and the need to simplify technical content for participants with minimal prior exposure to value addition concepts.
The training effectively advanced ASEC’s goal of improving farmer income through post-harvest value addition. Continued follow-up and targeted support in product development and market access are recommended to help farmers fully realize the benefits of value-added agriculture.