Hola’s Sh120m mango juice processing plant opened

By PATRICK BEJA

Tana River, KENYA: A mango fruit processing plant has been established in Hola town raising the economic hopes of an estimated 10,000 mango farmers in Tana River County.

The plant is jointly owned by the Coast Development Authority (CDA) and mango farmers in Galole Constituency, who have an agreement with the authority to supply mango fruits.

Bottled mango juice hit the market in Mombasa  after the Sh120 million integrated  fruit factory, put up by CDA, began its operations early this month.

The plant has capacity to process 30 metric tonnes of mangoes a day and there are 30 direct workers and 2,250 mango collectors serving the plant.

Speaking during the launch of the product in Mombasa over the weekend, CDA Managing Director James Kahindi said the factory can also process pineapple juice, tomato sauce, chilli sauce as well as honey and also package mineral water.

AVOID WASTAGE

“We built the plant to add value to mangoes produced in the Tana River County, which were mostly going to waste due to lack of markets,” Kahindi said.

He said due to high poverty levels, farmers would sometimes end up selling premature mangoes just so they could earn a few shillings. The long term effect of this is that it makes mango trees barren.

Kahindi said more than 10,000 farmers have formed the Galole Farmers Co-operative Society and are supplying mangoes to the factory. 

“We have increased the shelf-life of mangoes in Tana River County to one year by bottling fruits at source. The products will provide consumers with more options as well as expand our presence in the region as we utilise innovative technologies and rigorous quality controls,” Kahindi said.

BIG PLANS

Also speaking at the launch, Mcharo Mwalugha, who co-ordinates the farmers who supply mangoes to the project, said the co-operative has ensured steady supply of raw materials.

“Plans are underway to establish a mega mango orchard, train farmers  and supply improved seeds to expand acreage,” Mwalugha said.

Kahindi said CDA intends to establish the orchard  on 10,000  acres of land at Kulalu in Hola to boost production.

“We have already sank a borehole to support irrigation farming on the farm. The project is meant to increase food security and provide income for the rural farmers,”  he said.

The plant will also be used to process pineapples mainly from Malindi in Kilifi County, especially when the mangoes are not in season.

 

WATER PANS

It also has a production line for tomatoes, chillies and honey.

The CDA also announced plans to construct 80 water pans across the six coast counties to support  residents in livestock farming.

The first 14 water pans have already been constructed at a cost of Sh47 million.

“The water pans are meant  to provide water to local communities and their livestock and hence improve production,” Kahindi said.

The CDA has also ventured into  coral block cutting in Kilifi County and plans are underway to start mining in Taita Taveta County.