Growers adopt plan to stop middlemen

By Seth Mwaniki.

BROKERS: Hundreds of avocado farmers in Othaya, Nyeri County have embarked on a mission to lock out brokers eating into their earnings, thus leaving them to survive on peanuts.

They have agreed to form a single body that will handle marketing aspect of their produce at farm-gate level as a way of enhancing their bargaining strength particularly during the crucial stage of price determination.

A farmer in Chinga Ward Felister Karanja with tens of hass avocado trees said she has literally laboured to produce but no fruits to show because someone else, more informed than she is, is able to exploit her with little or no mercy.

She, however, expressed hope that their unity as farmers will save her the trouble of singlehandedly dealing with brokers while clueless.

Already, over 700 farmers from Mahiga Ward have broken the glass ceiling after uniting by earning Sh20 for each fruit sold last year.