Coast Development Authority opens water bottling plant

Coast Development Authority (CDA) has unveiled a bottled water product.

The new product  dubbed Tana Best is being produced at the  Integrated  Fruit Processing  Plant (IFPP) factory in Boji Tana River County and the water is sourced from River Tana.

CDA Managing Director, Dr Mohamed Keinan said the authority has upgraded the fruit juice manufacturing equipment to include a water production line.

“We have injected Sh7.5 million to install state-of-the-art water treatment and packaging equipment,” he said.

 Keinan said development projects in the coastal region are being aligned with the national government’s agenda of universal healthcare, affordable housing, food security and manufacturing.

Keinan said the new venture will complement the mango processing plant during the mango fruit off season.

 “The factory has permanent employees so we had to explore other options to keep the factory functioning round the year and keep employees busy,” he said.

Keinan disclosed plans are underway to upgrade the integrated IFPP factory to a multi-fruit juice facility to include processing pineapples, watermelon, chilli and tomato sauc

Keinan was speaking yesterday  during the product launch and was accompanied by directors, Beatrice Gambo and Amina Abdalla. 

Keinan said the  automatic water bottling plant has a packaging capacity of up to 4,000 bottles of purified water an hour for sustainability.

Cynthia Mugo, fruit processing project coordinator said the plastic water bottles are currently produced and supplied in 500 ml and one litre bottles, and will be upscaled as per market needs.

 Mugo said a carton containing 24 pieces of half-litre bottles goes for Sh330. She said the integrated fruit and water processing plant will create jobs in the area and will lead to further benefits within the supply chain.

The new developments have been welcomed by residents living near the factory. They said it will create jobs for local youth, helping foster economic development in the region.

A local community leader, Harun Ali has hailed the upgrading of the fruit processing factory saying it will in the long run improve farmers’ livelihoods and also create jobs for locals.