WESTERN KENYA INDUSTRIAL TRIP: BSC. FOODSCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY, FOURTH YEAR CLASS 2015/16

FEBRUARY 2016

INTRODUCTION Western Kenya is a home to many food industries that are agricultural based. Various products from locally available materials that are grown in the area as well as those imported are converted or transformed to value added products. The choice of western Kenya was unique based on diversity of products and the different food industries found in the area. The current visit was arranged to cover aspects of the following core courses: - Sugar Technology, Tea Technology, Cereal Processing Technology, Fruits and Vegetables Technology, Biotechnology and Industrial Fermentation. In addition, students were involved in an outreach programme: visit and interactive session with students in St. Mary’s School, Yala, Siaya County. Objectives of the trip were therefore:

i. To learn the various unit operation applied in selected food industries. ii. To appreciate the various products from different industries in Kenya.

iii. To enhance knowledge learnt in class through observation of the real online processing and material handling.

iv. To network and create links which will help students find internship and employment chances.

v. To interact with selected high school students as well as market the University of Nairobi through the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology.

The trip included 5 staff members (Dr. G.O. Abong’, Ms. J. Njenga, Ms. C. Cherotich, Mr. D. Onsongo and Mr. P. Mwangi) and 40 students. VISIT ITINERARY The visit itinerary is indicated in Table 1 Table 1: Itinerary for western Kenya Industrial visit by BSc. Food Science and Technology year 4

DAY/ DATE

TIME

FIRM/INDUSTRY

COURSE/ACTIVITY

Monday 1/02/2016

Morning Njoro Canning Factory - Nakuru Fruit and Vegetable Technology

Afternoon KARI – Njoro - Nakuru Cereal (wheat) Technology – Quality Assessment

Tuesday 2/02/2016

Morning Kapchebet Tea Limited - Kericho Tea Technology

Afternoon Agro-chemical & Food Company - Muhoroni

Biotechnology

Wednesday 3/02/2016

Morning Fish Landing Beach and handling – Kisumu

Meat Technology

Afternoon St. Marys’ Shool Yala - Siaya High School Outreach

Thursday 4/02/2016

Morning Nzoia Sugar Company Sugar Technology

Afternoon Kibabii/Fish processing- Fish Section

Outreach/Fish handling and sanitation

Friday 5/02/2016

Morning Unga Millers - Eldoret Cereal Technology (Dry-maize Milling

Afternoon Rift Valley Bottlers Beverage Technology

Saturday 6/02/2016

Morning Journey to Nairobi Travelling back to Nairobi

DAY 1: NJORO CANNING LTD. AND KALRO NJORO

Njoro canning is a private company involved in processing of various food products. It’s located

in the heart of Njoro near Egerton University some few kilometers off Nakuru town. It’s

involved in processing of various food products ranging from spices to dried vegetables. Some

of the products include: spices (turmeric, ginger, nut Meg, cinnamon, coriander, rosemary etc),

dried vegetables (kales, cabbage and manage), tomato sauce, tomato ketchup, mixed

vegetables, canned garden peas and frozen fries. Students were able to learn and appreciate

unit operations in the five sister companies involved in processing the indicated products.

Njoro Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) on the other hand is

research organization involved in carrying out research on various agricultural crops and

livestock, major focus being on wheat grains and sweet potato roots research. Its aim is to

improve on the existing varieties of and propose the best for processing various products.

Various methods of evaluating raw materials and testing for wheat and wheat products quality

were learnt. Some of the parameters checked in wheat included protein content, moisture

content, falling number and extensibility.

Some of the equipment they use include: brabender farinograph to check the content of

protein in wheat, they have an oven for baking and others.

Day 2: KAPCHEBET TEA FACTORY, KERICHO

The students visited Kapchebet Tea Factory in Kericho County to learn and appreciate the black

tea processing as one of the core technological courses of the group. Students were taken

through tea plant development and factors affecting tea quality, tea plucking, reception,

withering, cut and tear technology, tea fermentation/oxidation, drying and grading as well as

packaging and marketing of tea.

Day 3: Fish processing and school outreach

Kisumu being a bay city is a host of fish handling and processing activities. Nile perch is the

major fish meant for processing mainly into fillets that are frozen and meant for export to the

EU markets. Lake Victoria is the only source of the fish being processed. Two major companies

under operation were visited. The visit started at the Ministry of Agriculture, State Department

of Fisheries in Kisumu where students were taken through regulatory framework involved in

fish business, the role of the ministry, communities and beach units. Thereafter, students

undertook a tour of fish processing factories in two groups. Major learning points were: hygiene

and sanitation, reception and handling of fish, filleting process and packaging.

An interactive session with form four students of St. Mary’s School, Yala, Siaya County ensued

in the afternoon of 3rd February 2016. BSc. Food Science and Technology year 4 students took

the opportunity to share their life experiences especially concerning transition from secondary

to University. Career and college choices were discussed including the various courses and

requirements for the same, tenable at the University of Nairobi. Related questions on methods

of effective study were answered.

Day 4: SUGAR PROCESSING AT NZOIA SUGAR COMPANY, KIBABII AND BEACH VISITS

On the fourth day of the trip, the students visited Nzoia Sugar Company, had courtesy call to

Kibabii University and had a feel of beaches at Kisumu. At Nzoia sugar, government owned

sugar mill, a ray of activities were undertaken. Students were briefed on the establishment,

cane preparation and necessary procedures for brown sugar production. Sugarcane is the main

raw material for sugar making. The company obtain it from out grower farms cultivated by

farmers who are contracted by the company to supply cane to the factory. Operations at the

factory include: Cane unloading and preparation, Juice extraction, Purification of juice -

clarification and evaporation, crystallization, Centrifuging and Drying and packaging. By –

Products of the process include: bagasse, Molasses and Filter mud.

On the way back to Kisumu, the convey made a stop-over at Kibabii University where they were

received by Prof. Solomon Shibairo, the current Ag. DVC Research and Extension and former

dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi. Words of wisdom and guidance were

received in the short visit. They had a short tour and interaction with agricultural students

before leaving for Kisumu to learn more about beach management Units. Beach Management

Units (BMUs) play a critical role in assuring sustainable fishing through appropriate regulations.

Through their empowerments, the ministry of fisheries has been able to control and reduce

illegal fishing in the lake. Normal operations of the BMUs were explained by the staff at the

Ministry.

DAY 5: UNGA LTD AND RIFT VALLEY BOTTLERS, ELDORET

The last day of the trip was in Eldoret where the team toured Unga Ltd on matters of wheat and

maize milling. Elaborate process of reception, cleaning, milling and packaging was discussed.

The principle of KAISEN was also discussed and witnessed by the high level of organization and

work shown by employees at Unga. At Rift valley Bottlers, the team was taken through

beverage processing beginning with water treatment, concentrate mixing, safety aspects during

heat treatment and packaging. An interaction session with HR, Operations and quality

managers proved interesting as issues of cv writing and job interviews were tackled. The team

was then invited to a dinner prepared by two of the departmental alumni.

Day 6: Journey to Nairobi

A smooth and safe journey was undertaken from Eldoret to Nairobi after a successful trip full of

learning and cordial interaction with industry was concluded. Glory be to God who preserves

and gives life and health.

Conclusion

The students were able to learn the various unit operation applied in selected food industries as

well as enhance knowledge learnt in class through observation of the real online processing and

material handling. They were also able to network and created necessary industrial linkages.