Sh7.5m Hola mango plant ready for commissioning

The Sh7.5 million Hola based mango fruit processing factory in Tana River county is ready for commissioning and commercial production of mango juice.

The factory plant was set up and would be operated by the Coast Development Authority (CDA).

CDA Board of Directors chairman, Kazungu Kambi, Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata and CDA Managing Director (MD) Dr. Mohamed Keinan have toured the new facility ahead of its commissioning.

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Kambi said the fruit project has capacity to process 30 metric tonnes of mangoes a day and has already employed 100 mango collectors at the plant.

''The upgrading of this plant will in the long run improve farmers' livelihoods and also create jobs for locals,'' Kambi said.

Kambi said the factory is good news for the people of Tana River who grow plenty of mangoes and other fruits but have no viable market for them.

The CDA chairman also hinted out plans are now on top gear in preparations for the official launch of the factory by President Uhuru Kenyatta but didn’t give the exact date .  

Elungata said the setting up of the fruit processing plant was a “step in the right direction” and fits well into the government’s Big Four agenda that includes manufacturing.

The administrator said the venture would be a ‘game changer’ and would boost local farmers’ incomes in the long run and fight poverty.

Keinan urged the local farmers to ensure steady supply of raw materials saying it signals good news for local mango and pineapple farmers.

''We intend to upgrade the factory to a multi-fruit juice facility to include processing pineapples and other fruits grown locally in the region,'' Keinan said.

Dr. Keinan said a new production line has been added which would be used to process pineapples especially when the mangoes are not in season.

He added that CDA has also recently upgraded the fruit juice manufacturing equipment to include a water production line.

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