Chitambo cassava mill nears completion

WORKS at the Cassava Milling Plant (CMP) being established at a cost of US$2.4 million in Chitambo have advanced, district coordinating officer Katumwa Mutandi has said.

This is contained in a statement issued by Chitambo District Council public relations officer Nakubiana Shabongo. Mr Mutandi said the project was expected to be completed in August this year and that the installation of equipment would be done in September. He said once the plant was completed it was projected to earn about US$1 million from the sale of feed and flour extracted from cassava. Mr Mutandi said the major shareholder, Chitambo District Cooperative Unit (CDCU), was expected to buy more than 40,000 tonnes of cassava annually. This is expected to support farming in the province and enhance profits for farmers. Mr Mutandi said the milling plant had registered 5, 000 farmers who would be supplying it with cassava, which would also enhance the production of the crop in Zambia. He said this when Chitambo Town council chairperson Laston Chibuye toured the plant. “The plant has a flour line of two tonnes per hour and feed line of one tonne per hour. Annually, we are looking at production of 40, 000 tonnes. Things are in place and we will finalise this in September. We also have another facility that will ensure we are not emitting polluted air to the public,” Mr Mutandi said. Mr Chibuye expressed happiness that the Ministry of Agriculture was strengthening and expanding out-grower schemes to promote value addition and create more jobs in Chitambo. He challenged farmers in the district to take advantage of the business opportunities the plant would create by growing more cassava because the market for the crop was readily available. “We are very pleased with the ongoing works at this plant. The development will have a positive impact to the people of Chitambo,” Mr Chibuye said.