Figure 4-4 – Distribution of value-added goods and services to the Northern Corridor and beyond via Emali

Figure 4-4 – Distribution of value-added goods and services to the Northern Corridor and beyond via Emali 4.2.1.2. Location and Links

The County Government has constructed an extensive ATC at Kwa Kathoka that could provide a base for the central hub. On a site of 30 acres, the ATC covers livestock, horticulture, arable and fish farming, with facilities including offices, training rooms, halls, hostels and demonstration farms, as well as internet connectivity to enable agricultural research uptake. Located just 12 kilometres southeast of Wote on the Makindu Road, the ATC is an established centre for the agricultural sector within the County.

In order to build on the role of the ATC, the central hub and aggregation centre could be situated within the facility at Kwa Kathoka. The central hub would require about 2,000 m2 of space, comprising 1,000 m2 covered sorting and packing area, 300 m2 for cold storage, 100 m2 of office space and 600 m2 for loading / unloading. The potential throughput at the site is estimated at around 100,000 tonnes of produce per year, with around 50 to 60 truck movements per day.

With regards to the local aggregation centres, there is scope for utilising some of the 43 existing collection centres across the County, of which only a handful are operational. In particular, there is potential in building on the new centres at Kalongo in Kaiti, Kavuthu in the Mbitini ward of Makueni and Kalawani in Mbooni. These centres are around 95% complete (as of February 2022) and are all expected to include cold storage facilities. Another location with potential is at the Makindu Grain Processing Plant (which is under the Makueni Integrated Grain Value Addition project). In addition, a local centre at Emali could also be of use for the sector, due to the town’s role as a major gateway for farm inputs coming into the County from Mombasa.

The identification of sites for local aggregation centres should be undertaken in consultation with farmer-based groups, VBAs and KCEP, as well as processors and traders, and with reference to the comprehensive database of farms and agricultural services in the County that is being finalised.