Technical and Advisory Services
- Organizing smallholders into production
and marketing groups through contract farming by implementing the Code
of Conduct thus improving producer-buyer linkages and serving as a
mediator/arbitrator
- Educating and training horticultural
growers on production, record keeping, harvesting and post harvest
handling especially for smallholders.
- Improving productivity through
demonstrations on new technologies and introducing new crop varieties.
- Encouraging commercial farming and
planned sustainable production to improve farmers’ income.
- Organizing, supervising and registering
fruit tree nursery operators to ensure timely availability of high
quality planting materials.
- Maintaining specialized extension
services and collaborating with other providers in the private and
public sectors.
- Coordinating and supervising the supply
of inputs to horticultural farmers on cost recovery basis.
- Collaborating with other players in the
industry on issues related to Maximum Residue Levels (M.R.L’s), EU
regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and Codes of
Practice.
- Collaborating with research and training
institutions to generate new technologies and develop curriculum.
- Initiating farm certification and
accreditation programmes aimed at promoting Good Agricultural Practices
(G.A.P) and ensuring consumer confidence on food safety.
- Supporting formation of grass root
commodity and regional based farmers associations.
- Promoting local utilization and
consumption of horticultural products.
- Inspecting fresh produce destined for
export to ensure conformity with international market standards.
- Developing quality standards for produce
in the local market in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.