By HELEN ZULU –
PREMIERCON Starch Company Limited has commenced the construction of a cassava processing plant in North-Western Province, which is expected to produce 7,200 tonnes of starch per annum.
The processing plant to be constructed at a cost of 3.5 million Euros is a joint venture between a Dutch Agricultural Development and Trading Company BV (DADTCO) and Premiercon Starch Company Limited.
DADTCO is a Netherlands private sector company established in 2002 which bases its approach on the combination of private entrepreneurship with a social vision.
Premiercon Starch Company Limited chief executive officer Lubasi Yuyi said preliminary works had began in preparation for the construction of the processing plant in the new Kalumbila District.
Mr Yuyi said the company had as of yesterday started making access ways, clearing the site and drilling a borehole.
He was speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
“We are happy that today we are starting the preliminary works, we are making access ways, clearing the site and drilling a borehole in preparation for the construction of a processing plant,” Mr Yuyi said.
He said the processing plant was expected to start operations  in September this year.
Mr Yuyi said the processing company was projected to  produce about 7,200 tonnes of starch annually.
He said the partnership provided a guaranteed market for cassava farmers as the company would purchase cassava at a pre agreed price.
“As Premiercon Starch Company Limited we do not want to be a statistic to be added to the documented 50 failed Starch processing Projects in Africa including some in Zambia hence our partnering with tried, tested and successful models such as DADTCOs,” he said.