The relationship between Machakos township industrial sector with its resource hinterland

Abstract

It is expected that industries in any geographical setting when closely linked with their resource hinterland, will contribute to the development of the resource hinterland through provision of employment, incomes, as well as giving incentives to the agricultural sector through purchasing the agricultural raw materials. This study examines the relationship between Machakos township industrial sector with its resource hinterland. This is done with a view of assessing how the industries located in the township have promoted the development of their resource hinterland. For detailed investigations, two agro-based industries namely Kenya Orchards Limited (KOL) and Makos Millers were selected. The study revealed that there exists a weak relationship between the Machakos township industrial sector and its resource hinterland. This is because, although the industries employ majority of the workers from Machakos District, majority of the workers earn low incomes. In addition, the fruits farmers earn relatively low incomes~ from the sale of their fruits to the fruit processing industry. This is (vii) because, they (farmers) are given low prices for their fruits, and the fact that the Kenya Orchards Limited also obtains some of the fruits from outside the district while the district produces more than the industry's demand. This is largely due to ignorance on the part of the management on the availability of the raw materials within the District as well as lack of incentives from the industry to the farmers. Some of the industries were found to encounter problems which limit their expansion and consequently their contribution to the development of their rural hinterland. These problems include poor transportation and water among others. How~ver the study found that there was potential for establishment of certain industries.