Cassava Flash Drying Technology soon to operate in Uganda

Two Ugandan investors - Adyaka Wholesalers Limited in Apac and Windwood Millers Limited in Lira have acquired a new technology-‘the cassava flash dryer’ so as to boost their cassava production. This cassava flash drying technology is under installation and is the first of its kind in Uganda and has rocked the nation in as far as cassava farming is concern. 

With this new technology in Uganda, Cassava farmers and processors will earn bigger profits and get better-quality products from their cassava. The two pioneer investors are large scale farmers and Entrepreneurs of cassava. Also, the two work in partnership with Africa Innovations Institute (AfrII) under the Cassava Adding Value for Africa phase II project (C AVA II). 

AfrII is spear heading the installation of the first ever cassava flash drying technology in Uganda. AfrII chairman, Professor George William Otim-Nape referred to the new technology as a breakthrough on the future of cassava farming in Uganda. He said ‘this flash drying technology, we believe, is going to be a game changer in Uganda’s agriculture specifically cassava farming. There is a lot of potential in cassava for the crop is the next best thing for the world over in as far as ensuring food security and so measures to improve production must be well thought out and implemented’. Otim-Nape added “the flash dryer technology will further brighten the future of cassava production in Uganda and so should be embraced wholly’ 

The Investment Promotion Expect, Mr. Alexander Osikhena and  Engineer Edward Bamidele Alenkhe from the Project Director’s Office (PDO) in FUNAAB, Nigeria visited and inspected the two investors’ sites on which the test drive of the flash dryer was conducted.

The flash drying Engineer, Engineer Alenkhe assessed the current technologies for grating and press and recommended some modifications to what is already being used. He recommended a prototype of a grater of 2 tons per hour to be fabricated by Pentagon services. Alenkhe also recommended modifications to dimensions of the wet areas of the flash dryer houses for them to be able to accommodate more equipment. 

The Cassava: Adding Value for Africa Phase II (CAVA II) Project supports adding value and commercialisation of cassava in Africa. In Uganda, the CAVA II project has successfully developed value chains for high Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF), by supporting investors to establish HQCF processing sites in Eastern, Northern and Central Uganda. The project beneficiaries include among others small holder farmers, Small and Medium Enterprises and selected actors working on cassava value chains.

Inclusive of the projects targets are: Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) processors acquiring and profiting from 5 flash dryers by the end of March 2019, and SHFs selling fresh cassava roots and benefitting by USD 12,609,934 million in 5 years at the end of March 2019. This will be achieved through stimulating sales of more than 183,547 tons of fresh cassava roots from SHFs into High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) and other cassava product value chains. It will focus on a number of bottlenecks that have slowed growth and progress from previous projects.