European Union to build Sh100 million banana plant in Taita Taveta

TAITA, KENYA: The Taita Taveta County Assembly has unanimously voted to allow the construction of a multi-million shillings banana development processing plant by European Union (EU).
Members of the Assembly passed a motion to pave way for the implementation of the Sh100.4 million banana value addition and marketing project in Taveta Sub-County, where there is huge potential in banana production.
The implementation of the project in the county is the first engagement with the EU and once operational, it will process products like banana pulp, banana flour for nutrition purposes, banana crips and chips.
During off season, it will also do mango pulp which has very high demand, if sold in special septic drum containers for long term storage.

The County will sell the products to multi-national companies like Delmonte and AFYA who pay premium price both for the banana and mango concentrates.
A total cost of Sh20 million will be used for putting up of a cold storage, Sh 46.5 million for the purchase, installation and commissioning of the project, Sh2.5 million for product promotion and marketing, and more than Sh 2.24 for nursery establishment and management.
Over Sh 1 million will be used for mobilisation and enlisting, and feasibility study while Sh2.3 million will go to monitoring and evaluation among other issues.
The motion was sponsored by Wusi-Kishamba Ward Representative who is also the chairman of the county assembly committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Justine Juma Mwamba.