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MATF launches new cassava project in western Kenya
Launched in November 2009, this new project will provide farmers in Ugenya and Migori districts in western Kenya with disease-resistant cassava. The project aims to scale up a successful cassava growing model to reduce food insecurity in the area.
Cassava was a staple crop in western Kenya until the 1990s when it was hit by two devastating viruses. As a result, most farmers in the region now have diseased cassava plants.
With the introduction of the new variety of cassava, FARM-Africa aims to enable approximately 3,825 households (with around 23,000 family members) to produce more, healthy cassava.
Currently, cassava produces 1-3 tonnes per hectare. The new variety could see 10-15 tonnes per hectare being produced. The new variety of cassava also matures in just 9-12 months, compared to current varieties which can take between 12-18 months. John Ochieng Gambo, a member of a Farmers’ Group in Migori district lives with his wife and children on a small farm:
“I have heard that the new cassava variety matures in 9 months instead of 18 months which will make a real difference to my income as I will be able to have two harvests in the time I used to have just one.
John Okanyas, a member of the same Farmers’ Group, was one of the very first farmers in the area to test out the improved variety of cassava. Since then, he has had a very good cassava yield and he is keen to show other local farmers the importance of planting the new variety.
“All my family’s daily food, my children’s school fees and our medical treatment come out of this field. If I have no harvest, I cannot provide any of these. Thankfully this new variety of cassava means I have the confidence to look at developing other crops such as mangoes. If the whole community could have the same opportunity we would be free from many troubles.”
The project will also see the construction of two cassava processing factories, one in each of the districts, to be operated by local entrepreneurs. The factories will produce dried cassava chips and high quality cassava flour and aim to process more than 20,000 tonnes in a year. This processed cassava adds value to the raw material, meaning it fetches a higher price at market.
Click here to read more about this project
Click here to read a news article featuring this project in the Kenya Daily Nation
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