Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) Programme Cassava Dreams Will Take Root in Kilifi Challenge In Kilifi, cassava has long been a resilient crop— thriving through droughts and heavy rains. Yet, despite its potential, farmers face a critical hurdle: once harvested, cassava must be processed within days, or it spoils under the sun. The absence of local milling or starch-extraction facilities has led to significant postharvest losses, Figure 1: A woman prepares Cassava for the market unpredictable incomes, and reliance on costly imported starch for staples like wheat flour. Intervention The UK Government-funded Sustainable Urban Economic Development (SUED) Programme is changing that narrative. Through seed funding to Bake Easy, the Kilifi Cassava Project is set to transform both the agricultural landscape and household economies in this coastal county. Key interventions include: •
Solar-Drying Aggregation Hubs: Four hubs will be established to receive fresh cassava for washing, drying, and chipping—dramatically reducing spoilage.
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Nucleus Farm Development: A 100-acre farm will be leased and planted with climateresilient, high-yield cassava varieties developed by IITA and the University of Nairobi. Over 3,000 smallholders will be trained in best-practice agronomy and post-harvest care.