ZCF scouts for $2m to set up tomato plant
By MAILESI BANDA THE Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF), has made an application for US$2.3 to buy equipment to be used at a tomato processing plant that it plans to set up in Lusaka.
ZCF director general, James Chirwa announced that the approval process for the funds had reached the first approval stage, adding that he was optimistic that the process would soon be competed and the machinery bought.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation, he said the US$600,000 worth tomato processing plant project would help tomato growers in Lusaka find a market for their produce.
“We are still mobilising funds to buy the tomato processing equipment which is estimated at K6.9 million each and we have made a request for US$2.3 funds which we are optimistic we will soon receive,” he said.
Mr Chirwa, said the plants would be set up in different parts of the country to assist tomato farmers, especially women who sold tomatoes recover their capital which was wasted when the product got rotten.
He noted that tomato traders waste a lot of tomatoes which is sometimes not bought by customers hence losing their capital.
“If you go to these markets, you will find rotten tomatoes being thrown away but you must realize that a lot of money is spent to buy those tomatoes,’’ Mr Chirwa said.
He explained that once the plants were set up, collection bins would be placed in all major markets allowing easy access for tomato dealers to sell their commodity.
He said the project would indirectly improve tomato traders’ income because instead of throwing away the tomatoes, they would be taking them to processors.
Mr Chirwa said tomato products would be properly packaged to international standards for export if the local market could not consume all the products.