Cassava value chain in Kenya: production, value and opportunities

Page 03 · Value chains

CsCassava

Cassava value chain dashboard.

Production

1.1M t

/yr

Sector value

KES 16B

0.29%

Producers

~440,000 HH

estimated reach

Current status

Cassava is the most drought-resilient staple — produces under conditions that fail maize. Coastal and lake basin production dominant. Limited industrial processing.

Future trends

Industrial starch potential mostly unrealized. Cassava Brown Streak Disease (CBSD) emerging risk. KALRO Mtwapa varieties resistant + high-yielding.

Needs & gaps

Industrial cassava starch market absent — Kenya imports starch. Cyanide content of bitter varieties requires processing. Cold chain for fresh roots almost zero.

Major actors

4 firms / bodies tracked

KALRO MtwapaR&DIITA KenyaR&DKapa Oil RefineriesPROCAFAREG

Investment opportunities

3 actionable paths

Industrial starch processing — substitute for imported maize starch.

CBSD-resistant variety scaling (MM-96, KME-1).

High-quality cassava flour (HQCF) for blending into wheat flour.

Cassava through every value-chain lens

14 stages covered

Markets

Cassava root KES 14-22/kg; processed flour KES 80/kg.

Growing conditions

Extreme drought tolerance; 9-12 month cycle.

Inputs & logistics

Disease-free cuttings critical; minimal fertilizer requirements.

Production

Yields 12 t/ha smallholder vs trial 35.

Harvest & post-harvest

Manual; processing within 48 hours of harvest critical (rots fast).

Aggregation

Lake basin + coastal co-ops; weak aggregation.

Trade

Cross-border with Uganda; domestic surplus markets thin.

Processing

HQCF emerging; industrial starch absent.

Retail

Fresh roadside + chips. Supermarket cassava flour growing.

Consumer

Per-capita 22kg in producing regions; staple in coastal diet.

R&D

KALRO Mtwapa + IITA cassava-breeding programme.

Mechanization

Manual labour-intensive; mechanization low priority.

Infrastructure

Processing infrastructure (HQCF mills) the gap.

Financing

Limited — niche AFC + microfinance.