Kisumu county establishes tomato processing plant

Kisumu County has completed the establishment of a tomato processing plant in Nyamware village. The Kochieng Tomato Processing plant will promote agro-industry and improve livelihoods in Kobura Ward, Nyando Sub-county.

The plant is now completed and fully equipped and will soon be commissioned by Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o in the coming weeks.

According to the Chief Officer for Industrialization and Energy in the county Mr. Joseph Oganga, the Department spent Sh20million for the flagship project in the 2021/22 Financial Year.

Dr. Paul Omanga who is the Chief Officer for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries said tomato production in the rice schemes during the off-peak season is of a significant rate to sustain the factory production.

With over 1000 farmers and 200 hactares of land, tomato is among the high-value crops planted post rice harvest in the vast Ahero, West Kano, and South West Kano irrigation schemes.  The region plants other horticultural crops including African vegetables, hot pepper and watermelon.

“The same equipment can be used to process mangoes, avocadoes, pineapples and other fruits which will be transported from far off areas to the site for processing,” stated Dr. Omanga.