Pineapple factory to be set up in Bureti District

A pineapple processing plant is set to be constructed in Bureti District, the Agriculture Minister has said. Mr William Ruto said the Government was currently looking for an investor to set up the factory.

He, however, added that if the State fails to get an investor, it would allocate funds for the proposed project.

“If we fail to get an investor to construct the factory in Bureti to process pineapples and package them for export and for the local market, the Government will allocate money to the project,” said Mr Ruto.

Speaking at Tulwet Secondary School in Buret constituency during a funds drive, the minister said the pineapple crop was doing well in the region.

He said that it was unfortunate that farmers were selling it at throwaway prices at local market centres.

Mr Ruto said his ministry would ensure that the factory is set up to enable farmers benefit from pineapples just like other cash crops.

Buret MP Franklin Bett who accompanied Mr Ruto said farmers were selling a pineapple at Sh10 at markets centres within the South Rift region.

“We want farmers to reap from pineapples and the only way is to construct a processing plant for them in the district,” he said.

Mr Bett said the proposed factory would enable farmers in the region to process the crop and package it for export to compete with other international companies dealing in pineapples in the country.