Growing Solutions Kenya offically opened:

Greenhouse technology and expertise now available for local Kenyan growers

On December 14th, 2015, the official opening of the Growing Solutions Kenya project took place at the Latia Resource Center. This program, sponsored by the Dutch government, aims to support Kenyan growers on how to produce healthy vegetables with minimum use of pesticides. The program was officially opened by Mr. Peter Muthee, managing director of Latia Resource Center and Bert Rikken, Agricultural counselor.

The vegetable demo project ‘Growing Solutions Kenya’ is set up by Green Farming, a consortium of 12 Dutch horticultural technology providers. The aim of this project is to enable small and medium scale vegetable growers in Kenya to develop a sustainable and profitable business where productivity and food-safety are key. This is realized by combining Dutch technology (fitted to local conditions) and expertise with local expertise of growers and knowledge centers.

Different levels of greenhouse technology
This vegetable demo project has been put into practice at Latia Resource Center, located 80 km south-east of Nairobi. In three different types of greenhouses (a manually operated greenhouse, a half-automated greenhouse and a fully computer controlled greenhouse) tomatoes are grown. Through an extensive capacity building program local growers will be trained in modern crop growing techniques including biological pest control and the appropriate application of Dutch technology. This approach ensures them of achieving the highest productivity with minimum use of water and fertilizers.

Official opening demo greenhouse
In presence of growers, press and interest groups the official opening took place on December 14th. During this ceremony key note speeches were delivered by Mr. Peter Muthee (Managing Director of Latia), Martin Helmich (Hoogendoorn horticultural automation), Nico de Groot (DLV Plant) and Mr. Bert Rikken (Agricultural Counselor). “This project makes Dutch greenhouse technology and expertise available for local Kenya growers, which positively contributes to a sustainable food production,” said Mr. Rikken in his speech.

For more information:
Growing Solutions Kenya
Nico de Groot
info@greenfarming.nl

Publication date: Fri 18 Dec 2015