Fintrac Launches Horticultural Program in Kenya

Kenya (December 1st,2003) - In October, Fintrac established the Horticulture Development Centre (HDC) in Kenya. The four-year USAID-funded project is tasked with increasing the incomes of 35,000 participating horticultural smallholders by over $26 million and expanding local and export horticultural sales by over $50 million.

Fintrac's market-led technical approach to implementation centers around the transfer of good agricultural practices and low-cost sustainable technologies to smallholders. Other components include the promotion of private sector investment and the development of sustainable buyer linkages. The HDC is also incorporating an exciting new Business Development Services (BDS) activity in which joint-venture agreements are being organized between Fintrac and local BDS providers to more effectively leverage extension activities and results.

A core team of Kenyan agronomists are already working out of mobile offices, supplying clients around Nairobi, Eldoret, Kisumu, Embu, and Mombasa with weekly technical support to diversify products and improve yields and quality. They are supported by a full-time marketing coordinator and augmented by intermittent industry specialists drawn from the European and East African horticultural trade. The team is led by Dr. Stephen New, Fintrac's Regional Africa Director.

Fintrac organized its team initiation workshop, project headquarters, media announcements, services description brochure, client applications and project websites within the first month of operation to allow for immediate implementation of technical activities.