By CHATULA KANGALI –
THE volatility of wheat prices is affecting the production and pricing of flour in the country, the Antelope Milling Company has said.
Managing director Elefherios Kaldis said that the fluctuating prices of wheat in Zambia were affecting the price of flour which kept on changing.
“The volatility of wheat prices and diesel are still a challenge in the production and pricing of flour. The prices of wheat keep on changing there and then,” he said.
Mr Kaldis said it was difficult to come up with constant prices for flour because of the fluctuation in the prices of wheat.
He said it would be good if suppliers and farmers considered pegging a fixed price of wheat for sometime as this would help in the pricing of flour as well.
The current prices of wheat range from $430 per tonne.
Mr Kaldis said Antelope Milling was on course with production despite the country experiencing power outages and that it was able to meet its target.
Mr Kaldis said the company had increased the production of flour from one tonne to five tonnes per day after it procured new machinery last year.
He said the company had a production capacity of 15 tonnes of mealie meal per day with a workforce of 550.
Mr Kaldis said the firm had remained competitive in business and was unable to export due to overwhelming demand on the local market.
