BAT assists farmers with K300,000 worth of bulb onion solar dryers

By TONY PALME
BRITISH American Tobacco has paid K300,000 to the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) to provide 15 bulb onion solar dryers for farmers this year.
The payment was made into the FPDA’s account on September 28.
This will bring to 20 solar dryers for this year.
Five have already been constructed costing K100,000 and being used by farmers in the Eastern Highlands.
In 2024, BAT will fund the remaining 30 solar dryers for K600,000 as per the project agreement.
BAT agreed to fund 50 bulb onion solar dryers for K1 million for 2023 and 2024.
The investment support is aimed at helping farmers to improve their onion production, harvests and marketing to earn better prices.
The FPDA chief executive officer Mark Worinu praised BAT for the tremendous investment support.
“The FPDA really appreciates the foresight of the BAT management under the capable and visionary leadership of its general manager Vadim Maksimenko for supporting one of our pillar programmes,” he said.
“Bulb onion is the FPDA’s flagship crop.
“To be recognised and supported by a reputable and globally renowned corporate entity shows the trust and confidence BAT has in our mandate to develop horticulture in the country.
Our farmers are very excited and keen to fully utilise these modern facilities.”
Maksimenko said BAT was proud to partner FPDA in supporting farmers in the Highlands.
“The FPDA not only builds the dryers but provides support to these farmers in the full-value chain.
“We are pleased to support the Government policy of investing in the agriculture sector and have invested a further K300,000 which was paid to the FPDA,” Maksimenko said.
According to bulb onion program manager James Aniau and project officer Chris Suya, they have already identified the locations for the 15 solar dryers in the Highlands and will start sourcing materials to construct it before the year ends.