Eastern Province to have mango juice plant

EASTERN Province will soon commence mango juice production at the multimillion Kwacha industrial yard under construction in chipata, says provincial permanent secretary Chanda Kasolo.

Mr. Chanda Kasolo said the industrial yard would provide mango farmers with a ready market. Government through the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has injected K200 million in the development of industrial yards to capture small-scale enterprises involved in the manufacture of various products across Zambia.

The industrial yards, which were in line with Government’s manufacturing street vendor transformation initiative, would enable entrepreneurs involved in activities such as steel and wood processing, automotive services and agro-processing to undertake the activities in an organised set-up.

Mr Kasolo who was speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation said the industrial yard in the Eastern Province will have over 70 workshops that will have factories for various goods.

He however said most of the factories at the yard would be for value addition of agriculture produce because the province was agriculturebased.

“We are hoping to see more industrial development in the province after the ground breaking ceremony of the industrial yard which happened last month,

“The industrial yard will have over 70 workshops and the workshops will be factories of various goods though a big proportion of them will be value addition to agriculture products,” he said.

He explained that among the factories that will set up in the industrial yard will be a mango juicing and pulping plant, a rice polishing plant for domestic and export supply as well.

Mr Kasolo said he would remove youths from streets and the market places and settle them in the industrial yard.

“I am thinking of mopping out youths from the streets and the markets area where they are manufacturing good furniture but not up to international standard,

“We will be able to bring them in and give them a workshop, funding and mentorship so that they produce world class furniture which we will be able to export rather than just to sell to the local market,” he said.