Farmers in Kisii County have reason to smile after the completion of a cold storage facility by Techwin Limited at Kiamokama Ward in Nyaribari Constituency, Kisii County.
This 384-square-foot cold storage unit, partitioned into over 8 cold rooms, was supported by the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) and the Kisii County Government to boost banana production in Kisii and Nyamira counties. The facility includes state-of-the-art evaporators, temperature-controlled compartments with sliding doors, and stacks of crates for the storage and distribution of perishable food products. The uniqueness of this facility lies in its flexible services, the range of products it can accommodate, and the temperature ranges at which it can operate.
Installed to store surplus produce, the facility aims to significantly reduce the staggering statistic highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO): approximately 37% of food produced in Sub-Saharan Africa is lost due to inadequate storage and distribution systems. By providing a reliable storage solution, it will minimize the occasional losses farmers face when unable to sell their products on time or lacking proper storage. Additionally, it will enhance income for farmers who currently transport their produce long distances for processing, thereby contributing to more sustainable and profitable agricultural practices in Kisii County.
The facility can hold various types of vegetables and is expected to help horticulture farmers reduce post-harvest losses, enhance food safety, and boost their profits. Techwin’s mission is to improve the lives of our clients by scaling their successes, in this case by providing solutions that encourage value addition. Banana production in the country has shifted from subsistence to cash crop farming due to increased demand and the crop’s ability to transition to more market-based food systems, making both fresh and processed value-added products such as crisps, wine, flour, fertilizer, and jam.
The cold storage facility comes at a critical time when the agricultural sector is grappling with the challenges posed by climate change and evolving market demands. Due to climatic fluctuations, there will always be variations in food production, necessitating the utilization of simple and effective on- and off-farm storage facilities to help achieve food security, a critical component of Kenya’s Big Four Agenda.
“We are working on aligning the operationalization of the cold storage facility. The objective is to ensure we curb post-harvest losses in Kisii and create a meaningful impact on food safety at all distribution stages, thereby mitigating food loss,” said Davis Koech, Head of Projects at Techwin Limited. “We take pride in our noteworthy accomplishments, particularly in upholding stringent standards of quality and scaling our customers' successes.”
What’s next?
Supporting more farmers and stakeholders. Techwin Limited is dedicated to linking markets, agribusiness processors, and cold chain stakeholders with affordable cooling solutions that can also be solar-powered. This approach not only saves energy but also minimizes the manufacturing footprint, contributing to sustainable and eco-friendly agricultural practices.