Staff at Voi Farm Limited, where they process raw red chilli into powder and hot sauce.
Chilli farmers in Taita Taveta have over the years struggled to find a market for their produce, leading to huge post-harvest losses every season. But now, a chilli processing factory — the Voi Farm Ltd — has come to their rescue.
The company buys chillis from farmers and processes them into various products.
“We started the company in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in the need for new business opportunities to cope with the hard times. We specialise in processing African Bird’s Eye (ABE) chillis,” says Mwanaidi Mohammed, the plant’s production manager. The company, established by Faustin Mgendi, has so far registered 100 farmers from Taita Taveta, who supply them with the African Bird’s Eye chilli.
“Our out-grower farmers are based in Kishushe, Mbololo, Sisera, Taveta, Kasigau, Mbale and Ngolia. We buy an average of 1,500 kilos of fresh chillis per month,” she reveals.
Mgendi says they chose to invest in African Bird’s Eye chilly because it’s one of the hottest chillis and in high demand. “This chilli is a hot cake because of its many health benefits,” she adds.
Social media marketing
According to health websites, the chili pepper helps to improve digestive health and metabolism, alleviates migraines, may reduce risks of cancer and fights fungal infections.
The company buys a kilo of the ABE chillis at Sh70 from the farmers.
“We produce Chilli Flakes, Chilli powder and our dried mangoes have chilled Achari.”
After value addition, the red chilli flakes cost Sh130 (wholesale price), chilli powder Sh150 (wholesale price) and Chilled Achari goes for Sh100. Red ABE chili flakes are packaged in 70g, Red ABE Chilli Powder in 65g and Chilled Achari in 80g packs.
“Chilli powder and chilli flakes are natural product as we add nothing to them apart from grinding and blending them. For the Achari, we only add salt, sugar and chillis, to give it crispy taste,” says Mwanaidi.
On marketing, the company gets most of its clients from its social media platform, as well as satisfied customers who recommend their products to their families and friends. They also sell directly to restaurants within Taita Taveta County.
The company has two permanent employees and two casuals.
The challenges
Despite the successes, the company has had its fair share of challenges. They include lack of finances for expansion, market issues, shortage of chillis in some seasons, water scarcity, and shortage of dying equipment.
That aside they have made good progress. Mwanaidi says their products are certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards. They also sell an average of 500 kilos of dried chilli per month.
Other than a ready market for their chilli, the farmers they have contracted have gotten free ABE seedlings, training on nursery establishment and free extension services that focuses on crop production and pest management.
Mwanaidi says the most important thing in chilli farming is to ensure you have enough water supply during the dry season. It’s also important to know where you will sell the chilli before you start planting them.
