The government’s push to actualise aggregation and industrial parks countrywide is one of the most game-changing initiatives by the Kenya Kwanza administration going by the impact it will have on all 47 counties and the economy in general.

At the core of this momentous project is the bid to consolidate Kenya’s agricultural produce to take advantage of the vast local, regional and international markets.

Leveraging the County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIP) the projects will be located in each county, within proximity to production areas to serve all farmers and primary producers.  The CAIPs will have clusters of independent aggregation centres which will help gain economies of scale for bulk purchasing to serving farmers and producers through collecting, storage and sorting and even primary processing and value addition. To achieve this ideal, which is part of the bigger government’s plan provided for in the next budget, every county will be allocated Sh1 billion to install the necessary infrastructure for the deal, with 14 counties already having advertised tenders for the projects’ actualisation.

County governments and private sector must come in handy to actualise these projects by pumping in money or expertise to help bring together farmers, processors, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers in a value chain that will not only spur growth but also strengthen them further into a mega engine of economic growth.

With all actors on board, the intention is to ensure better coordination within the value chain, improved quality control, reduced post-harvest losses, and increased value addition at various stages of the supply chain. If these ideals are well implemented, it could turn the country into one big export machinery boosting foreign exchange earnings, and also one that can lift many out of poverty. The CAIP project leverages a farmer-centred and export-oriented approach, whereby small-scale farmers and producers will contribute to the aggregation, marketing and export of produce from across the country taking opportunities right at the doorstep of farmers in the villages.

These centres will provide ready products in bulk and can open up access to markets such as the US through the African Growth and Opportunity Act.