US$3m Chitambo cassava milling plant to spur growth to other sectors

…as this masterpiece plant is expected to create more direct and indirect employment

RECENT research in Zambia indicates that cassava is mostly consumed in its traditional form for its leaves, as a snack, and for preparing nshima popularly known as maize-cassava nshima. The limited knowledge of cassava products’ diversity and the low usage of improved equipment are challenges to the production of confectionery products that could lead to increased cassava consumption.

To help to change this narrative and support government policy on crop diversification and commercialization of cassava value chain, the Agricultural Productivity and Market Enhancement Project (APMEP) with financial support from Global Agricultural Food and Security Programme (GAFSP) has completed the construction of a US$3million state-of-art cassava milling plant in Chitambo of Central Province whose products will support several sectors.

The Milling plant which was constructed at cost of US$3million has three product lines namely; flour, feed and starch with a production capacity of 40 tonnes per day. The products are envisaged not only to support the livestock and aquaculture sectors but also the textiles, brewery, hospitals, and confectionary industries among others.

Speaking during the handover ceremony of the masterpiece plant to government by Hua Sheng Construction Company, District Education Board Secretary, Teddy Musonda said the completion of the Milling plant will change the face of Chitambo economically as it will contribute greatly to job creation and further provide ready market for cassava farmers.

Mr Musonda said the establishment of the Milling plant has come at the right time when government is promoting the agenda of crop diversification and commercialization of cassava value addition.

He said the ready market that the Milling plant will offer to cassava farmers will catalyze the production of cassava in Chitambo and neighboring districts thus ultimately leading to improved income levels for smallholder farmers.

Mr Musonda added that it was evident from the production output that the plant would require a lot of raw materials which the local farmers should take advantage thereby reducing the problem of high post-harvest losses that farmers in the district have been facing for a very long time.

Mr Musonda also added that the production of cassava flour, starch and feed will support sectors in breweries, textiles, hospitals, mining, livestock and fish industries among other thus contributing greatly to the country’s gross domestic product.

And, Principal Agricultural Economist, Vincent Malata said government will use Chitambo District Cooperative Union as a special purpose vehicle in reaching out to farmers so as improve the commercialization of cassava in the district.

He, however expressed confidence and optimism that farmers will double their effort in cassava production so as to avoid disrupting the operation of the Milling plant that could be caused due to non availability of raw material.

Meanwhile, District Agricultural Coordinator, Katumwa Mutandi has disclosed that the milling plant at full production capacity will create over 90 direct jobs both skilled and unskilled and with over 4,000 indirect jobs as suppliers of raw material to the plant both within and beyond the borders of the district. -NAIS