Farmers hopeful as state revives processing company

What you need to know:

  • The revamped PPCK will be a private company owned by farmers and managed through directors elected by them.
  • The Pyrethrum Growers Association (PGA) has welcomed the appointment of Mr Solomon Odera as the new PRA managing director.

The liberalisation of the pyrethrum sub-sector has begun in earnest with the government setting in motion the revival of the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PPCK).

Interestingly, the company that will take on the commercial functions of the sector existed for the last 51 years as it was registered on November 7, 1963.

But not many farmers are aware of its existence as it went under in the 1980s due to corruption and mismanagement of the sub-sector.

The Pyrethrum Act was repealed last year and put under the Crops Act 2013 in line with ongoing reforms in the agriculture sector.

The government has separated the functions of the defunct Pyrethrum Board of Kenya to include the Pyrethrum Regulatory Authority (PRA) which will deal with regulatory issues and the PPCK.

The government has announced a timetable for the election of directors to manage the PPCK. The exercise kicks off on Monday and will run to August 31.

The government move is seen as the first step in liberalising the lucrative sector ahead of the issuance of licences to private investors.

PRIVATE COMPANY

The revamped PPCK will be a private company owned by farmers and managed through directors elected by them.

The new director-general of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA), Mr Alfred Busolo, said the authority has invited pyrethrum stakeholders to a stock holding verification exercise in the 18 pyrethrum-growing counties.

Speaking to the Sunday Nation, Mr Busolo said the verification will pave the way for the election of company directors in accordance with the new Crops Act of 2013.

“Only those stockholders whose certificates and personal identification documents will be verified will participate in electing directors,” said Mr Busolo.

The former managing director of PRA said the verification will be held in six regions — Central Rift, South Rift, North Rift, Nyanza, Central, and Eastern.

Meanwhile, the Pyrethrum Growers Association (PGA) has welcomed the appointment of Mr Solomon Odera as the new PRA managing director.

PGA national chairman Justus Mochache Monda said his appointment comes at a time when the once-lucrative sub-sector is arising from the ashes of past corruption and mismanagement.