In Aloys Mbogo’s capable hands, just one mango can transform into at least nine different products. This farmer by profession is a master of making the most of his crops. In agricultural terms, this is called value addition. From six acres of land in Karurumo in Embu, he has built a farming paradise where mangoes and other crops thrive in abundance.  

Although Aloys is a farming veteran having begun in 2000, he previously enjoyed a long career as a civil servant. As his retirement approached in the early 2000s, a trip to his hometown (Embu) drew Aloys’ attention to a pursuit he had not yet considered – mango farming. He had initially gone to visit his farm, which had maize and beans at the time, but realised that many farmers in the area were farming mangoes. These agricultural experts were also making a significant profit.  

A New Chapter 

For Aloys, mangoes were the perfect choice of crop. They grew on trees and so required lower maintenance. Even more attractive was that potential customers would buy the fruits straight from the farm thus saving costs on transport. The prospect of this lucrative venture intrigued Aloys. He then set off to plant his very first acre of mango trees. 

By 2005, the same year Aloys retired, his mango trees had sprung up from the ground and matured. But the process was not without its challenges. Aloys noticed how much wastage there was in the process of growing, harvesting and selling these highly sought-after fruits. When growing, mangoes would be plagued by fungal diseases. Then when harvested, they would be attacked by aggressive fruit flies. All this did not bode well for a farmer hoping to retain as much of their mango yield as possible. It was clear to Aloys that he needed to gain knowledge that would allow him to lose as few mangoes as possible. 

It was at this point that Aloys gained new skills through assistance from a TechnoServe program. He learned how to manage fruit flies with effective traps. And this was just the beginning. Aloys went on to gain further training in value addition and on how to maximise the potential of his mangoes through processes like drying. 

Mastering Value Addition 

Empowered by this newfound knowledge, Aloys approached a carpenter and instructed them to build a dryer to transform his excess mangoes into new and exciting products. He went from simply farming mangoes to be consumed as they were to creating myriad products. He turned mangoes into edible leather, dried snacks, powder, dried crisps, juice, and jam. Out of the peels and seeds, key minerals for animal feeds could also be made. His efforts to make any and everything from mangoes did not go unnoticed. These imaginative approaches led to Aloys being elected the chairman of a group of farmers also doing value addition in the Karurumo area. He spearheaded the group’s acquisition of a three-quarter piece of land where they built a value-addition centre. 

In all this success, Aloys has continued with his farm and, as of October 2022, is in the process of building a fully functional value-addition centre on his farm. He hopes to set up pulping and grating machines, and a miller to grind crops into powder for packaging and slicers. he has about 100 mango trees and is working towards new value-addition projects such as making mango vinegar and wine. He hopes that his wide range of mango products will be stocked in local and international shops. 

More than Mangoes 

In addition, he farms bananas, avocadoes, lemongrass, lemons, macadamias and more. And although this assortment of crops may seem random, their selection is led by Aloys’ distinct passion for cultivating what is beneficial for his community. Lemongrass, for example, is an antioxidant with medicinal properties. He also worries about the price of food and has found the use of bananas as flour and baby food can save underprivileged people from buying expensive products.  

No doubt, Aloys Mbogo is a farmer extraordinaire. His commitment to ceaselessly chasing after farming knowledge and bringing unmatched creativity to agriculture is truly commendable. 

Have you ever tried any unique mango products or been inspired to try any out? Let us know in the comments! 

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