By JAMES KUNDA? –
THE Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has trained 150 business people on the Copperbelt Province under a programme aimed at empowering local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) to improve product quality.
The training was a follow-up to industrial visits undertaken in 2014, to help the ZABS identify where and how it could help enhance product quality for local MSMEs.
ZABS head of marketing and public relations Hazel Zulu said in a statement yesterday that the training was also aimed at encouraging MSMEs who included farmers and food processors, to have their products certified.
Ms Zulu said the institutions were trained in food safety, good agricultural practice and how to have their products certified by ZABS.
The training and awareness seminar, which was in line with ZABS’ objective to impart standardisation and quality assurance knowledge on industry and government’s objective of promoting locally produced products, took place in Mpongwe, Lufwanyama, Ndola, Luanshya and Kitwe last week.
The organisations trained included Mpongwe farmers or food processors, Lufwanyama farmers, Ndola poultry farmers, Luanshya farmers and processors, Fisenge milk collection centre and Kitwe peanut butter processors.
“It is envisaged that upon being trained, the farmers and food processors will be able to understand basic principles of food safety and hygiene, good agricultural practices and procedures and of product certification,” she said.