Taita Taveta launches banana tissue culture lab to boost sustainable farming, productivity
Taita Taveta Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo (in grey suit) with officials from Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) and Taita Taveta University (TTU) during the launch of Banana Tissue Culture Lab. Photo/Mishi Gongo
The Taita Taveta County government has launched a banana tissue culture lab to boost sustainable farming and productivity.
The initiative aims to help farmers produce high quality banana seedlings through tissue culture technology.
The procedure will make the banana produced to be of high quality free from diseases.
The project is in partnership with Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT) and Taita Taveta University (TTU).
Speaking during the event, Taita Taveta Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo said the lab has the capacity to multiply 230,000 seedlings, enabling farmers to grow high-quality bananas for both local consumption and export.
"We will continue to strengthen our multilateral collaboration to become top producers in banana productivity nationwide," DG Kilalo said.
MESPT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rebecca Mukoye, emphasized the government goodwill in ensuring that the lab serves not only as a tissue culture facility, but also as a learning and research hub.
She reiterated the lab’s role in promoting sustainability, environmental stewardship, advancing sustainable agriculture, and strengthening the banana value chain.
Taita Taveta University Vice Chancellor Prof Christine Onyango said the facility is a beacon of hope and opportunity for farmers, students, and researchers to explore new ways to improve crop yields and build resilience against diseases, in line with the government's commitment to sustainable food security, economic growth, and youth empowerment.
"From March to May 2025, the facility aims to release its first commercial batch of 18,000 banana seedlings, allowing farmers to benefit from clean, disease-free planting materials," Prof Onyango said.
