Food Technology Research Center (FT-RC)
FOOD TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH CENTER (FT-RC)
Agriculture is the largest sector of the economy, contributing one-quarter directly to Kenya’s gross domestic production and another quarter indirectly. Two-thirds of Kenyans derive either all or part of their incomes from agriculture. Consequently, the manufacturing sector in Kenya is largely centered around agro-based industries. The food and beverage sectors contribute 40 percent and 48 percent of manufacturing employment and gross domestic production, respectively. Value-addition to agricultural produce is thus a viable route to expand manufactured exports, improve food security, decrease post-harvest losses and enhance socio-economic development. Despite the strategic importance of the agricultural value chain to economic growth, value added manufacturing of agricultural produce is low. The national agricultural product processing ratio (i.e. food manufacturing value-added as a fraction of agricultural gross domestic production) is about 13 percent. About 90 percent of total agricultural exports are in raw or semi-processed form whereas postharvest losses account for 50 percent of agro-produce.