Agriculture & Microenterprise Development

Kenya Horticultural Development Program

Horticulture Development Centre (HDC) is the head office and information centre for the new USAID funded Horticulture Development Project.  The project is managed by the agribusiness consultancy Fintrac Inc in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture. The project will work with horticultural exporters, agribusiness partners, and other Government of Kenya agencies to assist small-scale horticultural farmers to meet increasingly stringent export requirements. Our first priority will be to provide practical assistance wherever possible to companies with smallholder suppliers who have potential to achieve EUREPGAP certification. We shall also be looking for new product opportunities and improvements to production systems which can provide year round income from the supply of high quality products to domestic, regional and international markets.

The project is setting up regional information centres in Kisumu, Eldoret, Embu and Mombasa in conjunction with the MOA, which will be operational in January 2004. A core team of agronomists will provide growers with market-led production and postharvest support.

Mission

The primary purpose of the HDC is to increase incomes in the horticulture sector through crop diversification, technological improvements, and new market linkages.

Services

HDC will provide business development services (BDS) to client growers in conjunction with partner organisations through a "technology fund". Examples of activities which could be supported include:

• Training and pre-audition for EUREPGAP compliance
• Identification of new crops and products
• Trials and demonstrations 
• Transfer of good agricultural and natural resource management practices
•  IPM techniques
• Domestic, regional and export market buyer linkages

Clients

Small-scale farmer groups throughout Kenya are invited to make direct applications for HDC assistance. Selection is based on need, experience, and a willingness to adopt new technologies and share these with neighbouring farmers. Applications should include details of current crops and acreage in production, number of years in business, number of growers or employees and an indication of assistance required.

Partners

The HDC will be delivering assistance in conjunction with local joint venture business services partners in the horticulture sub-sector. We welcome any proposals from trade associations, exporting firms, processors and other service suppliers who are interested in working with us to maintain and expand the smallholder horticultural sector.

For more information or to submit applications, please contact the HDC.

Find out more about Fintrac Inc at www.fintrac.com

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