Solar Drying Technology Improves Cassava Production in Northern Uganda
Nancy Nandudu
The Cassava Adding Value for Africa (CAVA II) project in its second phase at the Africa Innovations Institute is raising the bar for actors along the cassava value chain in Uganda with the introduction of solar drying technology as a means of increasing the volumes of High Quality Cassava Chips and Flour produced at different processing sites across the country.
Notably, the project’s recent expansion into northern Uganda has led to identification of key Small and Medium Entrepreneurs, who have adopted the technology successfully. After applying the technology, Mr. Opio Samuel a farmer from Apac district reported improvements in the speed of drying as well as the quality of output from the system, which is unaffected by natural calamities due to its closed nature.
The success from the system is quickly gaining popularity among other farmer processing groups in the CAVA II project, which are taking steps to streamline their drying process by undertaking study tours of the Lira site, and seeking necessary engagements with service providers to attain the new and improved technology onsite.
Kameke processing site in eastern Uganda recently gained inspiration from a study tour of the Lira processing site to purchase a solar drying system of their own, and AfrII is currently providing the team with the necessary technical backstopping to ensure their smooth an effective adaptation of the technology to facilitate their successful turnover of profit form the new venture.
The CAVA II charitable purpose is to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers (SHFs) and community processors through participation in profitable and sustainable value-added cassava chains. In Uganda, the project particularly seeks to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers (SHFs) and community processors through participation in profitable and sustainable value-added cassava chains.