. COTTAN

By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA  –
SUPERIOR Milling Company has invested a total of K12 million in the expansion of its plant in Lusaka’s Chanika area to double milling capacity to 15 tonnes per hour.
The new mill to be commissioned in November this year,  will include the latest technology in maize milling to maintain high standards.
Superior Milling Company managing director Peter Cottan said the company would be installing a brand new maize mill which would increase the milling capacity before the end of this year.
“Our new mill will include the installation of 5,000 tonnes of bulk storage silos at our plant to secure part of our maize stocks. The total value of our new investment into the mill expansion is K12 million,” Mr Cottan said.
Speaking at the signing of the partnership agreement with the Zambia National Farmer’s Union (ZNFU) in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Cottan said the company was expected to buy about 80,000 tonnes of maize this year.
He said: “We at Superior Milling are leading the way in setting up our own maize buying depots around the country, starting with Mumbwa,  following the Ministry of Agriculture’s directive that all millers must procure 100 per cent of their maize needs this coming marketing season to carry them through until the next harvest in 2015.”
Mr Cottan said at the Mumbwa agro centre, the company would also open a  milling depot for the sale of mealie meal, rice and salt.
“We will follow this maize buying location with others in Lusaka, Chongwe, Mpongwe and Monze,” he said.
Mr Cottan said the company was pleased to partner with ZNFU, as they have huge membership of small scale farmers who all grow maize in the Lima programme and that,  members are assured that Superior Milling will pay them a  market price for their maize.