The Sh20 million modern livestock market at Banita in Soin, Rongai sub-County is ready for an official opening in the coming days.

Governor Lee Kinyanjui laid the foundation stone on February 27, 2019.

Once complete, the facility will have an office block, pavilion, animal paddocks, washrooms and sheds.

Nakuru County Trade minister Raymond Komen said the market is in the last phase of completion and will boost livestock farming and trade in the region.

The inaugural Banita Easter Goat Auction, conducted in April 2018, fetched farmers Sh6 million in a record 37 minutes.

A mature goat or sheep was retailing at Sh10,000, up from Sh4,000 in other market days and elsewhere.

The 2019 auction was cancelled due to an outbreak of anthrax and foot and mouth diseases in neighbouring counties.

The 2020 auction was cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic threat but was reopened on Saturday ahead of the commissioning.

More than 20,000 tilapia fingerlings were introduced in several dams in Njoro sub-county over the weekend in a partnership between the county and national government.

The County Government of Nakuru has embarked on a program to stock all permanent water bodies within the region with zone-specific fingerlings.

Eleven dams in Njoro, Molo, Gilgil, Subukia, Rongai, Kuresoi North and Kuresoi South sub-counties will be restocked with 10,000 fingerlings each.

Mugumo/Naishi dam, Belbur and Gathangi in Lare and Njoro wards are the latest beneficiaries. Mugumo/Naishi and Gathangi dams earlier in the year received 3,000 fingerlings each.

The Tilapia species can weigh up to 800 grams and lays after every 21 days ultimately increasing fish population.

The fish projects are being managed by local women and youth groups as a way of improving communities’ economic and nutritional status.

Njoro sub-County Fisheries Officer Mr Erick Kiprop urged committee members to help protect the breeding areas.

“We encourage continuous monitoring and evaluation of the dams for safety and productivity,” he advised.

The County Government of Nakuru has promised to enforce the law to curb the exploitation of carrot growers by middlemen.

Dr Immaculate Maina, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, said most farmers of the crop were not tapping its maximum potential because they were not members of cooperatives.

Dr Maina, who spoke in Mau Narok when she visited Mau View Sacco Carrot farmers said that the county government was in talks with the national government and development partners to help farmers avoid post-harvest loses through the establishment of cold rooms and carrot value addition factories.

According to the CEC the members of the Sacco export 2,850 bags of carrots per week to neighbouring Uganda, adding that the devolved unit is committed to establishing a regional carrot export market that meets the needs of the East African Community.

Dr Maina also revealed that her department is negotiating with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to fast-track certification of Kihingo Milk plant to enable it to start packaging and marketing of dairy products in Njoro Sub-County.

She pointed out that processing of milk and value addition within the production points will greatly reduce losses incurred between farmers and processors.

The CEC observed this will go a long way in assisting the traceability and branding of the milk by a processor in the market.

Dr Maina said the County department of Agriculture is formulating policies to protect and promote the development of the dairy industry.

She further observed that that carrots farmed in the county had a huge unmet demand in Marikiti, and Kongowea markets in Nairobi and Mombasa respectively, and advised farmers to stick to export rules and regulations so as to penetrate regional and international markets.

The CEC affirmed that the county government is committed to saving farmers from poor markets by helping them harvest quality agricultural products.

“Farmers must ensure that only quality carrots are produced and marketed. Harvesting and export of immature crops negatively affect Kenya’s image in overseas markets.

Farmers willing to export their products should have valid licenses and be registered as exporters or else their produce will be impounded at border points,” Dr Maina observed.