Cassava Post-Harvest Management in Kenya: Opportunity for Gari Production: A Review
Main Article Content
Keywords
Cassava, post-harvest management, Gari, value addition, Kenya
Abstract
Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a vital climate resilience crop in Sub-Saharan Africa, ranking as the fourth most crucial staple globally. In Kenya, it is a second root crop after Irish potatoes and provides a significant source of food and income, particularly for smallholder farmers who comprise about 80% of agricultural producers. However, its potential contribution to national food and nutrition security remains underexploited due to severe post-harvest losses, low nutritional value, and the presence of toxic cyanogenic glycosides. This review synthesises peer-reviewed literature, policy documents, and technical reports published between 2015 and 2025 to examine cassava postharvest handling and value addition options in Kenya. Evidence shows that poor infrastructures accelerate PPD 72 hours after harvest, resulting in significant losses up to 23%. Although processing into gari has proven effective in reducing cyanide through fermentation and roasting while extending shelf life, its adoption in Kenya remains limited. Key barriers include a lack of awareness of the product, inadequate small-scale processing infrastructure, a lack of standardised gari quality specifications, weak market awareness, and consumer preference for fresh cassava roots. The review identifies critical research gaps, notably the limited Kenyan studies on gari scalability, consumer acceptance, and market integration. While policy initiatives such as Kenya’s Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019–2029) emphasize value addition to reduce postharvest losses, implementation remains limited. The review concludes that targeted investment in small-scale processing technologies, development of Kenyan gari quality standards, and market-oriented research are essential to enhance cassava value addition through product diversification and strengthen food and nutrition security in Kenya.
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Dominguez, E. R., & Rodriguez-Landa, J. F. (2019). Preclinical and clinical research on the toxic and neurological effects of cassava consumption. Metabolic Brain Disease, 35, 65–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11011-019-00522-0
Emongor, R. A., Makokha, S., Matere, S., Nzuve, F. M., & Githunguri, C. (2023). Analysis of the cassava value chain among smallholder farmers in Busia County, Kenya. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 41(3), 106–113. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2023/v41i31865
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Indrastuti, E., Estiasih, T., Zubaidah, E., & Harijono. (2019). Physicochemical characteristics and In vitro starch digestibility of spontaneously combined submerged and solid state fermented cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) flour. Current Nutrition & Food Science, 15(7), 725-734. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573401314666180515112908
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Feb 3, 2026
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Ngulinzira, L. . D., Serem , C., & Were, G. (2026). Cassava Post-Harvest Management in Kenya: Opportunity for Gari Production: A Review. Journal of Crops, Livestock and Pest Management, 4(1), 1–18. Retrieved from https://blueprintacademicpublishers.com/index.php/JOCLIPM/article/view/332
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Author Biographies
Lucia Daniel Ngulinzira, Department of Family and Consumer Science, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 112-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Family and Consumer Science, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 112-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
Charlotte Serem , Department of Family and Consumer Science, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 112-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Family and Consumer Science, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 112-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
Gertrude Were, Department of Family and Consumer Science, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 112-30100, Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Family and Consumer Science, School of Agriculture and Biotechnology, University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 112-30100, Eldoret, Kenya