Ukambani Mangoes Yet to Meet International Market Standards, Says Chamber of Commerce President

 By Wasike Elvis 

Mangoes produced in the Ukambani region have been described as not meeting the standards required for international markets, according to the President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Eric Ruto.

Speaking in Machakos town during the official opening of a three-day trade expo at the Machakos Golf Club, Dr. Ruto said that although the Ukambani region produces the highest number of mangoes in the country, most of the fruits fail to meet the quality required for export.

He noted that the situation has limited farmers in the region from fully benefiting from international trade opportunities, despite the high volumes of mango production every year.

Dr. Ruto said the region has great potential to dominate the mango export market if farmers adopt better farming practices and improve how they handle the fruit after harvest.

“Ukambani produces a very large number of mangoes annually, but most of them cannot access international markets because they do not meet the required standards,” he said.

He added that poor post-harvest handling, lack of proper quality control systems and limited farmer organization have contributed to the challenge.

Dr. Ruto urged mango farmers in Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties to reorganize themselves into cooperative societies in order to improve production and marketing.

According to him, farmer cooperatives would make it easier for growers to access training, modern farming technologies, and quality control measures needed to meet export requirements.

“Farmers need to regroup into strong societies where they can be trained on proper farming methods, harvesting techniques and quality control so that their produce can meet global standards,” he said.

He also emphasized the need for farmers to embrace modern agricultural practices, improved mango varieties and better storage and packaging systems to reduce post-harvest losses and improve the overall quality of the fruit.

Dr. Ruto noted that despite the presence of open markets in countries such as the United Kingdom, mango farmers from Ukambani have struggled for years to produce fruit that meets export quality requirements.

He said there is an urgent need for change if farmers in the region are to compete with producers from other countries that are already supplying high-quality mangoes to global markets.

At the same time, he encouraged both county governments and agricultural stakeholders to invest in farmer training, value addition and better market linkages in order to support the region’s mango industry.

Dr. Ruto was speaking during the opening ceremony of a three-day trade expo that has brought together farmers, traders, investors, financial institutions and government representatives.

The exhibition aims to promote trade, investment opportunities and value addition in agricultural products while providing a platform for farmers and businesses to interact with potential buyers and partners.

Local leaders who attended the event said the expo will help farmers learn new techniques, access markets and explore ways of improving the quality of their produce.

Ukambani remains one of Kenya’s largest mango-producing regions, with thousands of small-scale farmers depending on the fruit for their livelihoods.

However, experts say improving quality standards, strengthening farmer organizations and investing in post-harvest management will be key in helping the region unlock the full economic potential of mango farming.