Agro-processing and value addition
Selling raw produce at harvest time earns the least. Processing, drying, storing and packaging adds value and lets you sell when prices are better. This builds on agricultural value addition (method 286).
What these methods share
- Standards: food products need KEBS standards marks and county public health approval.
- Hygiene and packaging: clean processing and good labels earn shelf space.
- Raw material: secure steady supply from farmers or groups.
829. Mobile maize shelling and threshing service
What it is: Taking a motorised sheller or thresher to farms to shell maize or thresh beans and grains. How it works: Farmers book → shell on-site → charge per bag.
| Skills | Machine operation and maintenance |
| Cost & equipment | Sheller/thresher, transport (motorbike or tractor) |
| Where to find work | Smallholder farmers, groups, traders |
| Payment | Per bag |
| Realistic earnings | Medium in harvest seasons |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Buy or lease a machine before harvest; book farmers through chamas and groups. Pros: Fast returns in season. Cons & risks: Seasonal; machine breakdowns. Scam warning: Agree prices per bag before work. Kenya notes: Harvest seasons in the Rift Valley and Western Kenya bring heavy demand.
830. Hermetic storage and grain drying
What it is: Selling hermetic storage bags and offering drying services so farmers store grain safely and sell later. How it works: Dry grain properly → store in hermetic bags or silos → sell when prices rise.
| Skills | Grain handling, moisture testing |
| Cost & equipment | Moisture meter, tarps or dryer, bag stock |
| Where to find work | Farmers, cereal traders, schools |
| Payment | Product sales and drying fees |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Learn moisture testing; stock hermetic bags; train farmers. Pros: Reduces post-harvest losses. Cons & risks: Seasonal demand. Scam warning: Damp grain risks aflatoxin: test moisture properly. Kenya notes: Aflatoxin contamination is a known problem in Kenyan maize; proper drying and storage prevent it.
831. Cassava flour processing
What it is: Turning cassava into flour, chips and other products. How it works: Peel → chip → dry → mill → pack.
| Skills | Food processing, hygiene |
| Cost & equipment | Chipper, drying racks, milling access, packaging |
| Where to find work | Shops, schools, bakeries, households |
| Payment | Per kilo |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Start small with local cassava; get KEBS and public health approvals for packed products. Pros: Drought-tolerant crop; growing demand for flour blends. Cons & risks: Must process cassava properly to remove natural toxins. Scam warning: Never sell unpacked flour as “certified” without approval. Kenya notes: Cassava grows well in Coast, Western and Nyanza regions.
832. Solar fruit drying
What it is: Drying mangoes, pineapples, bananas and other fruit with solar dryers for snacks and export. How it works: Buy fruit in glut seasons → slice → solar dry → pack.
| Skills | Food hygiene, packaging |
| Cost & equipment | Solar dryer, slicers, packaging |
| Where to find work | Supermarkets, schools, export buyers, online |
| Payment | Per pack or kilo |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Build or buy a solar dryer; start with mangoes in glut season. Pros: Reduces waste; long shelf life. Cons & risks: Quality control is essential. Scam warning: Don't use sulphites or additives without understanding food rules. Kenya notes: Mango gluts in Eastern and Coast regions waste tonnes of fruit every year.
833. Peanut butter production
What it is: Roasting and grinding groundnuts into peanut butter. How it works: Source nuts → sort → roast → grind → jar and label.
| Skills | Food processing, hygiene |
| Cost & equipment | Roaster, grinder, jars |
| Where to find work | Shops, supermarkets, schools, online |
| Payment | Per jar |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Weeks to months |
How to start: Start small, perfect your recipe, get KEBS certification before supermarket supply. Pros: Popular product. Cons & risks: Aflatoxin risk in poor nuts. Scam warning: Sort nuts carefully and test for aflatoxin. Kenya notes: Groundnuts grow in Western, Nyanza and Eastern Kenya.
834. Fortified porridge flour blends
What it is: Mixing millet, sorghum, maize, soya and other grains into nutritious porridge flours. How it works: Clean grains → roast → mill → blend → pack.
| Skills | Nutrition knowledge, hygiene |
| Cost & equipment | Milling access, packaging |
| Where to find work | Shops, schools, ECDE centres, hospitals |
| Payment | Per kilo |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Develop recipes; label ingredients clearly; get approvals. Pros: Steady demand. Cons & risks: Competition from big brands. Scam warning: Don't make health claims you can't prove. Kenya notes: Porridge (uji) is a daily staple, especially for children.
835. Coconut products
What it is: Making coconut oil, desiccated coconut, coir products and crafts. How it works: Collect coconuts → process oil or dry flesh → use husks for coir.
| Skills | Processing, crafts |
| Cost & equipment | Grater, press, drying space |
| Where to find work | Shops, hotels, tourists, cosmetic makers |
| Payment | Per product |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Start with coconut oil; add coir doormats and crafts. Pros: Uses the whole coconut. Cons & risks: Mostly Coast-based supply. Scam warning: Label oil honestly (virgin vs refined). Kenya notes: Coconuts are abundant along Kenya's coast.
836. Cashew nut processing
What it is: Shelling, roasting and packing cashew nuts. How it works: Buy raw nuts → steam → shell → peel → roast → grade → pack.
| Skills | Processing, grading |
| Cost & equipment | Shelling machines, roasting, packaging |
| Where to find work | Supermarkets, hotels, export |
| Payment | Per kilo |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Learn processing safety (cashew shell liquid burns skin); start small. Pros: High-value snack. Cons & risks: Processing is labour-intensive. Scam warning: Use gloves and protective gear. Kenya notes: Cashews grow in Kenya's coastal counties.
837. Macadamia nut cracking and packing
What it is: Cracking, grading and packaging macadamia nuts for local and export markets. How it works: Buy nuts → dry → crack → grade → pack.
| Skills | Processing, quality grading |
| Cost & equipment | Crackers, dryers, packaging |
| Where to find work | Exporters, supermarkets |
| Payment | Per kilo |
| Realistic earnings | Medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Partner with farmer groups; follow Agriculture and Food Authority rules for nuts. Pros: High value. Cons & risks: Regulated trade; quality standards. Scam warning: Only buy from legitimate sources: nut theft happens. Kenya notes: Kenya is a major macadamia producer, especially in Central and Eastern regions.
838. Sisal products
What it is: Making ropes, mats, bags and crafts from sisal fibre. How it works: Source fibre → spin or weave → finish products.
| Skills | Weaving, spinning |
| Cost & equipment | Low: tools, fibre |
| Where to find work | Craft shops, tourists, farms, exporters |
| Payment | Per product |
| Realistic earnings | Low |
| Time to first income | Weeks |
How to start: Learn from weaving groups; sell crafts online and at markets. Pros: Eco-friendly. Cons & risks: Low prices for basic items. Scam warning: Get deposits for bulk orders. Kenya notes: Sisal grows in dry areas such as Taita-Taveta, Machakos and Makueni.
839. Leather tanning and leather goods
What it is: Tanning hides and skins and making sandals, belts, bags and wallets. How it works: Collect hides → tan → cut and stitch products.
| Skills | Tanning, leatherwork |
| Cost & equipment | Tanning space and chemicals, tools |
| Where to find work | Shops, tourists, schools, online |
| Payment | Per product |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Train at a leather centre; start with goods from bought leather before tanning yourself. Pros: Adds value to a by-product. Cons & risks: Tanning chemicals need careful, licensed handling. Scam warning: Dispose of tanning waste properly: it's regulated by NEMA. Kenya notes: Kenya exports many raw hides; local leather goods add value.
840. Bamboo products
What it is: Growing or sourcing bamboo to make furniture, crafts, construction poles and toothpicks. How it works: Harvest → treat → cut → make products.
| Skills | Woodwork, treatment |
| Cost & equipment | Tools, treatment tanks |
| Where to find work | Furniture buyers, hotels, builders |
| Payment | Per product |
| Realistic earnings | Low to medium |
| Time to first income | Months |
How to start: Learn bamboo treatment; start with furniture or crafts. Pros: Fast-growing, renewable. Cons & risks: Untreated bamboo rots. Scam warning: Check rules before harvesting bamboo from forests. Kenya notes: Bamboo grows well in high-rainfall areas and is promoted for conservation.
Summary
- Agro-processing includes shelling services, grain storage, cassava flour, dried fruit, peanut butter, porridge blends, coconut, cashew and macadamia processing, sisal, leather and bamboo products.
- KEBS standards and county public health approvals apply to food products.
- Control aflatoxin, hygiene and safety.
Check yourself
Which toxin risk makes proper grain drying and storage important? (one word)
Show answer
aflatoxin
Which body issues standards marks for food products in Kenya? (acronym)
Show answer
kebs
Which nut crop is processed mainly in Kenya's coastal counties? (one word)
Show answer
cashew