Mango farming is the lifeline of many farmers of Tana River County and unveiling of the Integrated Fruit Processing Plant (IFPP) by the government will alleviate post-harvest losses. The Sh245 million project being implemented by the Coast Development Authority (CDA) was incepted way back in 2017, but due to financial constraints and other challenges it was being done at a snail’s pace. The upgrading of the integrated fruit processing plant included the installation of a pulp processing plant, the construction of auxiliary facilities and a waste management system. EAC, ASALs and Regional Development CS Peninah Malonza says the facility is designed to mechanize mango processing into pulp at a rate of 1.5 metric tons per hour, moving from the manually operated plant to increase the capacity and efficiency. The launch of the plant, she added, was in line with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) on agriculture and reducing post-harvest losses for farmers. ‘In Tana River County, mangoes have been a cornerstone of the local economy for decades, bringing prosperity to over 30,000 households,’ said Malonza, adding that farmers harvest over 50,000 tones in a season and transport more than 35,000 tones to markets and industries in Mombasa, Garissa and Nairobi. ‘Unfortunately, a substantial portion of this precious produce remains unsold in local markets or, heartbreakingly, left to rot on farms due to the lack of buyers. The same has also been noticed in other counties in the Coast region,’ she added. The launch of the plant is a symbol of hope for farmers, it will significantly reduce post-harvest losses resulting in economic stability. The plant contributes to economic development through the provision of employment opportunities for locals, market outlets for farmers, income for fruit farmers and value addition of fruits. The plant can produce 1.5 metric tons per hour of mango pulp. The pulp christened ‘Tana Gold’ is packed in five and 200 kilograms for small businesses and industrial use respectively. The main mango season in Tana River runs from October to March and as a result, a water bottling component with a capacity to process 1,000L/H of purified water was introduced to complement pulp processing and contribute to sustainability. ‘We have introduced a water purification plant to ensure that every drop of water used in the processing is efficiently managed, reinforcing our commitment to responsible resource utilization,’ stated Malonza.

Source: Kenya News Agency