The Murang’a County Government has issued a crucial advisory to mango farmers in response to a significant surplus in the market, which has hindered the timely uptake of their produce by contracted manufacturers throughout the county.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata announced through a public notice that this surplus stems from the favorable weather conditions experienced during much of the previous year. He highlighted that the heavy rains in August 2025, followed by a decrease in rainfall in October, led to increased flowering and fruiting, resulting in the current high production levels of mangoes.
“While this surge in agricultural productivity is commendable, it has created a temporary imbalance between supply and demand,” Kang’ata stated, acknowledging that manufacturers currently cannot absorb all the produce from farmers associated with the Lower Murang’a Mango Cooperative.
The governor also acknowledged the concerns of growers, noting that some mangoes harvested are still awaiting collection by officials from the cooperative. To mitigate further losses, he urged farmers to adhere strictly to the harvesting guidelines provided by the cooperative.
“Farmers must refrain from harvesting mangoes without explicit authorization from Lower Murang’a Cooperative officials,” he emphasized.
Kang’ata further cautioned that improper harvesting practices, particularly the picking of immature fruits, have exacerbated the situation. “Manufacturers are rejecting immature mangoes, which directly impacts farmers. Proper timing during harvesting is essential,” he asserted in the notice.
Additionally, the governor announced a strategic partnership with the Food for Education organization to implement a primary school meal pilot program in Murang’a and neighboring counties, thereby creating an alternative market for the excess mangoes.
“To ensure a reliable market, the county has established a second sales window through this partnership, which supports school meal programs in Nairobi, Murang’a, and Kiambu counties,” Kang’ata explained.
He noted that deliveries have already commenced at the Food for Education depot in Ruiru, marking a significant step toward reducing post-harvest losses while simultaneously contributing to nutritious meals for students.
Should this second sales window prove successful, the governor indicated that the county will promptly collect already harvested mangoes from various regions in Murang’a to provide immediate relief to farmers.
Kang’ata reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to stabilizing the mango market, assuring farmers that proactive measures are underway to safeguard their incomes and diminish post-harvest losses.
The county government has been providing support and subsidies to mango farmers for the past two years, which has resulted in an increase in the price for a kilogram of mangoes to over Sh23.
