From May 16th to 18th, 2023, the inaugural National Mango Conference and Exhibition took place in Makueni County. This significant event brought together representatives from 21 prominent mango-producing counties, including Makueni, Lamu, Machakos, Muranga, Migori, Embu, Meru, Kwale, Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kitui, Siaya, Bungoma, Nairobi, West Pokot, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu, and Mombasa. The County Government of Makueni and the Horticultural Crops Directorate of the Agriculture and Food Authority collaborated to organize this gathering.

Attended by a diverse group of 1,250 individuals, including farmers, government officials, researchers, policymakers, exporters, and technology service providers, the conference aimed to tackle the challenges faced by the Kenyan mango industry. Under the theme of “Winning Markets for Kenyan Mango by Building Resilience & Competitive Value Chain,” the participants delved into discussions and exchanged ideas to devise strategies and solutions that would improve market access for Kenyan mangoes while strengthening the entire value chain.