Exciting new markets for cassava farmers in Rwanda
The Kinazi Cassava Plant was commissioned by the Rwandan government in 2012 to add value to the large and growing cassava production in the country. Since then, the cassava milling factory has been processing and distributing high-quality flour, both nationally and internationally.
The company's Autonomous Mobile Processing Units (AMPUs) process fresh cassava close to the growers, instead of transporting the highly perishable roots over long distances to a central factory.
The joint venture between KCP and DADTCO would allow new markets to be developed. A special focus will lie on cassava as an input for beer breweries (instead of sugar) and cassava as a substitute (up to 20 percent) for wheat flour in bread.
By introducing mobile units (AMPUs) for processing, KCP and DADTCO will be able to bring the factory to the farmer.
KCP and DADTCO will create a "guaranteed market," which means cassava will be bought against a minimum price announced one year beforehand. If the market goes up, DADTCO also has to increase the price. However, DADTCO will never go below the minimum price.
IFDC, via the CATALIST-2 project, will play a role in linking farmers with guarantees to financial institutions in order to access loans.
In addition to installing three mobile units, KCP and DADTCO will refurbish the main factory, ensuring quality standards are met and equipment is up to date and capable of processing and storing the cassava cake.
The increased demand in cassava could be easily absorbed by a production increase. Cassava yields are low and often farmers do not consider it a cash crop.
By intensifying production, there is no competition with land use for other crops.
Source: theafricareport.com
