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.