This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
On August 2, 2019, Kilifi County Agriculture Executive Luciana Sanzua announced plans to construct a Sh226 million coconut processing plant in Mtwapa. The facility will be built at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, where the county has over 150 acres of land.
The project aims to improve the lives of coconut farmers by eliminating brokers who exploit them by buying nuts at throwaway prices. Once operational, the plant will be in direct contact with farmers, ensuring they receive fair prices for their produce.
The county has also embarked on a campaign to replant coconut trees through the World Bank-funded National Agriculture and Rural Inclusive Growth Project. This initiative will benefit dairy and poultry farmers as well as beekeepers in Kilifi.
The coconut factory will be managed by a palm wine cooperative and a private investor, with the county government playing an oversight role. Once completed, the plant will have the capacity to process 300,000 litres of palm wine into sugar, vinegar, and ethanol.
The county has imported 3,000 hybrid coconut nuts, which are expected to produce more than 300 nuts annually. The hybrid tree is a cross between the tall and short coconut varieties and is considered a game-changer in the coconut industry.
