Machinery

: 17 June 2020; Hits: 5191

Kiambu solar driers give farmers Sh10k extra on crops from value addition

WhatsApp_Image_2020-06-15_at_12.41.22_PM.jpeg

By Fredrique Achieng’

Herb farmers who are drying 200kg of herbs or other vegetables for Sh500 are earning Sh10,000 or more in extra income from the dried products, using the solar drying service from community-based organisation Afya Choice, in Lari, Kiambu County.

The driers are run by Afya Choice as part of their work to help farmers diversify their products and earn better incomes. It takes three days to dry the crops in the solar dryers, which cost farmers Sh15,000 to Sh25,000 to build themselves.

Afya Choice also helps farmers build their own dryers. “A dryer does not need a big space you can build it on a space of 3 by 6 metres. You’d be required to buy drying sheets, polythene film, drying mesh and timber,” said George Gathuru, the Value Addition Officer at Afya Choice.

Once a farmer buys the materials, technicians from Afya Choice build the dryer for the farmer for Sh5,000.

However, for those who want to use dryers only occasionally, it offers its own or members’ dryers for rent. The aim is to show producers how easy and effective drying is and how much value it adds.

“What Afya Choice is doing for farmers is really wonderful. I used to dry my chili with them, but once I discovered it is a process that I could easily do for myself I was able to buy the required material and Afya Choice installed it for me in my farm at Kabete. Right now, I rent it out to people who would wish to dry their crops,” said one of the organisation’s members, Mary Wanjiku.

Wanjiku first started using the solar dryer from Afya Choice in January 2020, but now has six to seven people who come to dry their own crops at her farm. She charges Sh1,000 per day for drying a variety of crops.

According to George, the drying process is really simple. Giving an example of the herb mint, he recommends watering the leaves the day before harvesting. Because the whole plant is edible, then pick it with sufficient stem, as this increases productivity.

After picking off the plant, it is taken through the process of washing and then blanching. This helps preserve nutrients in the plant. For blanching, place the plant into boiling water at 100 degrees for a period of one minute. Then transfer the herb into a cold bath and let it rest for five minutes.

Once the mint has dried, place it on a sheet of paper to allow the leaves to dry, and then place them into the dryer. The dryer should be placed in direct sunlight and away from trees or building to ensure maximum exposure to the sun.

“Using this process of drying, one should be careful not to exceed the temperature of 40 degrees as this helps preserve the flavour oils of the herb”, said George.

“We at Afya Choice aim at getting each of our farmers that are producing in the herbs industry into drying as the value of a dried herb is higher than that of a fresh one, due to the fact that the dried herb has a longer shelf life than a fresh one,” said George.

But as Mary discovered this year, many other crops can be dried too, from chillies onwards.

Afya Choice can be reached on 0701179490

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: 05 June 2020; Hits: 55086

Factsheet: A-Z of posho mill types and prices

Electric Posho Mills 1

By Jolene Njambi

With flour shortages looming, and many vegetables lending themselves to flour milling, in addition to maize, setting up a farm-based milling can provide value addition and far higher earnings from crops, quickly covering the initial cost of the equipment.

According to a recently concluded International Livestock Research Institute research, for the majority of maize consumed in Kenya, the main point of value addition is the village-based hammer mill, known locally as the posho mill.

Yet, as common as local milling practice is, knowledge on the machinery and its usage is still elusive to many. This article, therefore, covers the various models, output capacities, prices and best uses for different maize milling machinery to achieve the best flour sales.

To begin with, posho mills are powered by different sources: electricity, diesel and water. The most common are diesel and electricity. When buying, they usually come coupled with either an electric motor or a diesel engine depending on the customers’ preference. Ideally, the cost should be the same regardless of the power source of the mill.

Where the goal is to produce grade one sifted flour that is closest to the kind found in supermarkets, then the miller machines should be accompanied with other accessory machines, that is, the huller, pre-crusher and rollers.

The process of producing grade 1 flour begins by depositing maize grains into a huller to clean and separate the grain from the skin. The grains are then placed into a pre-crusher that breaks the grain into smaller rice-like particles preparing them into a form that is suitable for the roller to grind. The pre-crusher works hand-in-hand with a roller mill. The roller semi-hulls and separates the grain from the germ and husks and produces a clean high quality flour. Its main function is to sift and refine.

A huller retails for around Sh110,000. A roller mill will usually cost Sh245,000, while a maize crusher goes for about Sh165,000. A hybrid of both roller and crusher will cost about Sh400,000.

An alternative is to use just a posho mill and a huller alone, which are enough to produce quality whole meal, market-ready flour.

Posho mills are categorised into three groups: economy, medium and large, based on their different output capacities.

Economy-sized posho mills come in GM 15 and 20 models that can grind a maximum of three to four (90 kg) bags per hour. They are used where the target market prefers whole meal flour in its original non-sifted form and, therefore, is typically used for household purposes. However, they can also be a lucrative source of income for those seeking to produce flour on a small scale. In Kenya, it is not uncommon for people to consume whole meal flour. In fact, according to a 2016 report by the Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development at Egerton University, 74 per cent of rural households in Kenya consume non-sifted posho-mill flour, preferring it for its affordability, easy availability, high nutritional value and fibre content.

The going price range for the economy posho mills is from Sh90,000 to Sh205,000 depending on the brand.

For those with ambitious goals of operating in town or busy market centres, medium-sized posho mills are more suitable, of GM 25 and 30, with the capacity to produce six to eight bags per hour. They are easy to operate and maintain, and designed for continuous operation. They can be relied on to cater to highly demanding market situations. The government’s plans to supply the owners of posho mills with cheaper maize may open up the opportunity for better profit margins on such mills.

Costs vary by brand, but the standard price range is usually from Sh140,000 to Sh205,000.

Large posho mills are recommended for those starting flour milling plants. They come in GM 35 and 40 and can produce more than 15 bags per hour at maximum output. Additionally, they are suitable for reducing any dried materials, ores and soft minerals into flour. Their prices usually range from Sh320,000 to Sh425,000.

Currently, it is estimated that 70 per cent of packaged maize flour consumed in urban Kenya is produced by large scale millers. Therefore, despite having high initial costs, investing in large scale milling can position producers better for the urban market. As of 2019, the per capita consumption of maize in Kenya was 60 kgs, equivalent to 5kgs per person per month, showing that despite price fluctuations, maize consumption has remained within the same range since 2009. In the next 10 to 15 years, maize flour consumption is expected to increase by at least 6 per cent.

Posho Mill Supplier: Muharata Agri Machinery- 0706 618847, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Tuesday, 01 February 2022 [quote=Hosea]Where are you in Eldoret?[/quote] Hi Kennedy, contact Muharata Agr...

Sunday, 30 January 2022 Where are you in Eldoret?

Saturday, 13 February 2021 [quote=John Osoro]Do you stock posho mills with twin power function. i.e, can be...

Friday, 12 February 2021 Do you stock posho mills with twin power function. i.e, can be propelled both wi...

Monday, 11 January 2021 [quote=PAUL]Great,are we reffering to grade 1 milling machines here?[/quote] Hi...

: 04 June 2020; Hits: 10617

Some farmers pay 1/5th for boreholes on better drilling prices

Borehole with water

By Lydia Gichuki

Some farmers are securing boreholes at barely one-fifth of the drilling cost of their peers, as borehole drillers charge anywhere from Sh6,000 to Sh15,000 a metre, according to data gathered by FarmBizAfrica. Our list of borehole drillers for farmers to check and find the best option gives the prices for most of them, as well as details of the terrain and process that can add extra costs.

Requirements and the process of drilling

To have a borehole drilled, a hydro geological survey must be carried out by a geologist for Sh50,000 to Sh100,000, depending on the region and access. The geologist prepares three reports giving details on the depth, water salinity, expected yield and rock formation. These findings determine the method of drilling, which also affect the cost. The method can either be air drilling or mud drilling, which is more expensive.

Once the geologist has confirmed the groundwater has the potential to yield water, the drilling company seeks authorisation to drill from the Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA) at a cost of Sh25,000.

After WRMA has permitted drilling, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is done by the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to determine the project’s possible effects on the environment. If it is found that the drilling will not damage the environment, a license is issued at a cost of Sh30,000. In some cases, the drilling company will also need a license from the municipal council and a no-objection letter from local water suppliers.

Getting the report and permits can take up to a month. After that, the company do a 24-hour drilling test to see how much water the borehole yields so it can recommend the best pump.

The process of drilling a borehole in its entirety is then likely to cost between Sh1.2m and Sh3m.

Related News:How much it costs to drill a borehole

Factors that determine the cost of drilling

1. Company’s pricing policy

Some companies charge per cubic meter, while others charge for the process as a whole.

2. The physical distance of the drilling company from the site

When a company is situated a long way from the site, the cost of drilling is likely to be higher because of the extra logistic costs.

3. The depth and width of the borehole

The width and depth of the hole will dictate how much material will be used and the pump to be used leading to lesser or greater costs.

4. The pump used

Depending on the size of the borehole, the cost of the pump varies. The company must carry out a 24-hour drilling test so as to recommend the right size of pump.

5. Geological characteristic of the site

If the site proves difficult to drill, the cost will be higher as more power will be needed to get through the ground. This will depend on the rock types and formation.

6. Drilling price

The prices per metre from drilling contractors can vary a lot, but check for differences in their equipment and other factors.

Drilling contractors, as at June 2020

	Company	Cost per meter(Sh)	Phone number
1	Almak Aqua Drillers	8,500	0720351901
2	Simba Drilling	10,000	0780117447
3.	Export Hydro Pump and Services	10,000 -15,000	0754273235
4.	Apex Boreholes and Engineering Consultancy	7,000	0725267083
5.	Milimani Drilling East Africa Limited	5,500	0714719028
6.	Prd Rigs Kenya Limited	12,000-15,000	0717 555616
7.	Waterlink	7,000-10,000	0722 740522
8.	Bostec Trading	6,000-10,000	0727227903
9	East Africa Aqua tech	9,000	0721445106
10.	Drill Rite Africa		0722708093
11.	KG Water Drilling Company	7,500	0710234831
12	Borehole Services	8,000-10,000	0729516331
13.	In-depth Water and Services		0721906872
14.	Kijito Hydro	8,000	0725823627
15.	Borehole Drilling Merchants	7,000	0723 506816
16.	Rhino Water Drillers	8,500-14,000	0722585936
17.	Monsoon Drillers Limited	6,000	0703240153
18.	Noris International limited		0722466022
19.	Waterman Drilling Africa Limited		0722843222
20.	Pass Africa		0722 708222
21.	Major M borehole		072524088
22.	AFRICAN Mineral water company DRILLING CO. LTD		0722 387644
23.	Visima borehole water		0702 336699
24.	Water for the world		0722353242
25.	Borehole Masters		0717 252135