EU behind Sh574m food safety on Big Four Agenda

The European Union is funding a sh574 million (5 million Euros) food safety project anchored under President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big 4 Agenda.
The five year programme (2018-2022) dubbed Agriculture Financing Initiative (AgriFi) Food Safety Programme is being implemented by Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) through a delegate cooperation with DANIDA.
Today partners in the programme hosted a media breakfast at a Nairobi Hotel to give an update of initiative.
Mr Charles Nyawade Acting Chief Executive of MESPT named the 13 Counties that are being covered by the programme. They include Nyandarua, Nakuru, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru, Makueni, and Machakos. Others are Kilifi, Migori, Kisii, Kakamega and Bungoma.
“AgriFI programme builds on the premise that there is a skill-set gap among value chair actors that has affected the competitiveness of Agricultural Values Chains (VC), and lack of coordination and harmony in dissemination of the required skills and knowledge to VC actors has exacerbated the situation”, he told the press.
He termed the programme as a collaborate effort between Kenya and Danish government.
Mr Banning Hoy Nygaard, Growth Counsellor (Food) from the Royal Danish Embassy in Nairo, said the key focus is on Food safety, Plant and Animal health.
He said the programme is addressing two sub sectors; Dairy and Horticulture.
” The programme will focus on strengthening food safety aspects in dairy value chain from production to consumption including animal health, nutrition, waste management, milk hygiene and marketing.
“It is also on three chains namely Mango, Avocado and fresh beans for export”, he said.