By JULIUS PHIRI? –
THE first-ever commercial mini-milling plant in Eastern Province has?been launched in Chipata.
Cargill launched the milling plant which has been established at the?cost of US$2 million to service the people in that region.
The plant, with a production capacity of two tonnes of maize mealie?meal per hour is expected to help reduce and stabilise the prices of?the commodity in Chipata and surrounding districts.
Cargill projects manager Emmanuel Mbewe said the new milling plant?would be producing competitively priced mealie-meal.
Mr Mbewe said the milling plant would provide both rural and urban?farmers with a reliable and consistent market for their maize as well?as produce competitively priced mealie-meal for the consumers.
“We will be producing high quality white and roller maize meal for the domestic market including Cargill’s i- house brand that will be?available in five kilogramme (KG), 10 kg and 25 kg,” he said.
Mr Mbewe said the mini milling plant would support the Government’s policy objective of encouraging smaller and localised mills to improve food security by reducing the cost of food.
He said Cargill planned to build additional mini mills in other?rural locations in Eastern and Muchinga provinces over the next few?years.
He said the entity was committed to the economic growth and prosperity of Zambia and aligns it strongly with Government’s clearly stated desire to develop a thriving agricultural sector.
He said the plant would offer a distinct advantage in the maize meal?market in Chipata and surrounding areas as the mill would source local maize and produce the mealie-meal product in Chipata.
He said Cargill was committed to being a reliable partner to farmers?in Zambia and a positive catalyst for development in the agricultural?sector.
He said the investment in the plant was a reflection of Cargill’s?intent to grow in the region to serve its customers.
Recently, the Government has been championing the establishment of?milling plants in the district to help reduce and then maintain the?prices of mealie-meal by shortening the distance between the areas of?production and the market.
