IMPORTANCE OF VALUE ADDITION TO FARM PRODUCTS

MERCY NAMFUKWE

VALUE addition to farm products can be a great way to increase farm in come and diversify products.

Value added is the additional feature or economic value that a company adds to its products and services before offering them to customers as it also createsbrand identity.

Chairperson For NEFA Cooperative from Makeni New Farms, Daniel Ngimbu says their cooperate is an Agri based that’s specializing in  growing vegetables and soybean which they processing to finish products with wide range of products made from soybean such as soymilk, soy cake, muffins, soy porridge and soy cheese.

He explained on how they make soy cheese from there mains’ residue obtained from soybean when they are done processing adding that the products are naturaland are made from the farms produce and by adding value to it can save families from poverty and can also reduce the cost of living.

“There is literally nothing that we throw away from soybean, everything including coffee is made as a natural product from soybean, ’he stated.

“As a cooperative we advise people to not only run to the markets to by coffee and cheese but to also take advantage in making their own from the farm products to promote sustainability and efficiency through the use of the farm produce, ”he said.

He stated that the cooperative is also advocating for environmentally sensitive by advising farmers the importance of using organic manure to help in preserving the environment.

He added that the cooperative has ventured in growing vegetables such as colored pepper, baby marrow, sweet cone, tomatoes and cauliflower among others with the aim to expand their visibility and make sure that their products reach out to the shelves of the supermarkets.

“I’m happy to mention that our cooperative has managed to purchase the grinder and the soymilk processing machines for making products like coffee and porridge from soybean, we also make banana flour from the bananas and we are able to bake cakes using flour made from the indigenous bananas from the farm,” Mr. Ngimbu said.

He said the grinder machine is portable for processing the soybean coffee and soy porridge and a soymilk making machine is used for processing soybean into soymilk with different flavors like banana, strawberry and vanilla.

He said the machine is also used for m king juice from mango fruit and other fruit juice are made from soybean noting that the products are unique and natural and does not contain caffeine therefore advisable for people who have healthy conditions to consume the products.

He added that the products made of soy bean are high in nutritional value and provides nutrients to people in the communities and the cooperative has continued to advocate on the importance of adding value to the farm products like soybean.

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