Cassava farmers in Kilifi county are set to benefit from their crop after the county government conducted a successful test run for the Sh25 million cassava processing plant at the Agricultural Training Centre (ATC) in Mtwapa
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The plant will be installed at the Tezo Cassava factory in Kilifi North which is near completion
The test run was witnessed by Agriculture chief officer Fredrick Kaingu
Mr Kaingu said the installation of the plant is expected to end cassava farmers woes after their produce rot in their farms for lack of proper market.
He said the plant will be run under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework in which Ramada Food Products was picked as the firm that shall operate the Tezo factory.
Mr Kaingu said the county is home to more than 30,000 acres under cassava with an annual production of about 20 tonnes per acre
Ramada Food Products projects coordinator Wangila Wabomba said the plant is expected to be installed in the Tezo factory soon after the test run is over.
The Kilifi Director in charge of Agriculture Jefwa said the County is currently sensitising cassava farmers to adopt the plant of tajirika, a cassava variety that matures within a short time.