KENYA – Crystal Chillers and Frozen Foods, an investor in the potato processing sector, has laid plans to build Sh650 million (US$5.05M) plant in six months to process 1,000 tonnes of potatoes every month.
The multi-million potato chilling plant to be setup at the Special Economic Zone in Mai Mahiu, Naivasha, is expected to address the market problem for farmers in Nakuru and Nyandarua. The plant will be third after Egypt and South Africa.
According to Kihuyu Mungai, CEO of the company, the unit targets to process over five million kilogrammes of potatoes in the next five years.
It will initially have a processing capacity of 1,000 tonnes of potatoes per month and its production will be dedicated to the local market and export.
“The frozen potatoes will have a shelf life of 24 months. We source the raw material from local farmers. To this end, we are working with Egerton University to make available to farmers higher yielding potato seeds,” the official said.
The firm, he said, is working closely with Egerton University in research to help ensure farmers get the right seedlings for better yields.
Nakuru governor Susan Kihika termed the move as a game-changer in the two counties which lead in potato production in the country.
The governor noted that the county produces over 20,000 tonnes of potatoes annually in nine of the 11 sub-counties.
“It is my expectation that this factory will contribute towards the stabilisation of prices which range between Sh1,500 per bag during the glut season and Sh2,500 during low season,” she said.
“The investments will no doubt attract housing, eateries, transporters, banks, schools, hospitals and other related services.”
The national government projects the industrial park will create over 100,000 jobs in the medium to long term, which Kihika termed a win for the county.
Last year, Co-operative Bank of Kenya together with various global agricultural input giants and other entities including Agrico, Bayer East Africa, Simplifine Ltd, and Yara East Africa, has backed a new initiative that seeks to boost yields and incomes for potato farmers in Kenya.
The initiative will be implemented over a period of two years and aims to increase the yield of the tuber to 14 tonnes per hectare against a current level of around 7 to 10 tonnes. It also plans to reduce post-harvest losses recorded in the sector by 50%.
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