THE Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry through the Zambia Agribusiness and Trade Project (ZATP) has handed over feed manufacturing equipment and a mini factory to Mapepe dairy cooperative of Chilanga district costing over K1.4 million.
The funds which have been provided by the World Bank, have been used towards the purchase of manufacturing equipment, a light truck, and construction of the min factory.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Chilanga, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary in Charge of Investments and Industrialisation, Crusivia Hichikumba, reaffirmed government’s continued support to initiatives aimed at promoting value addition, wealth and job creation in the country.
ZANIS reports that Mr Hachikumba explained that the government is happy with the impact of ZATP in improving the business growth of farmers and Small and Medium Enterprises.
He said the ZATP programme aligns well with government aspiration of enhancing economic transformation in line with the vision 2030 and the National Development Plans.
“The first phase of ZATP which was done in only five provinces of the country has done so much for many people through job creation and improving the status of cooperatives, it has contributed to government aspirations of economic transformation that changes the wellbeing of people in the country,” he said.
He further thanked the World Bank for the financial support, adding that it has helped in enhancing the business standards and strengthening capacity of most cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs).
ZATP Project Manager Golden Makayi, said the project which is receiving support from the World Bank is aimed at supporting farmers and Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) adding value to agro products produced within their communities.
Mr Makayi explained that the government has resolved to support cooperatives as a way of empowering people and improving their livelihood.
“Government applied for a loan from the World Bank, with specific targets of supporting farmers in the country and SMEs to help them grow their activities such as the agro products that they produce, this is all meant to help you farmers see, your activities as business that you can improve your way of living and contribute to the country’s economic development,” said Mr Makayi.
Mr Makayi noted that the programme which is moving to the second phase has so far created over 4,000 jobs, 113,000 beneficiaries and is making positive contributions to the country’s economic development agenda.
He noted that the aim of the project is to create market linkages and firm growth for famers, Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) by supporting value addition to locally produced products.
“We are into the business of increasing market linkages and supporting the growth of the SME sector, and our farmers with a bias towards value addition to the various products that we produce and have as a country,” he stated.
He explained that his Organisation is impressed with the performance of Mapepe dairy cooperative which was one of the first cooperatives to apply for funding under the project in 2019 and was given 90,000 United States dollars to buy improved processing equipment.
And Mapepe Dairy Cooperative Society Board Chairperson, Winster Chizongo said since its inception in 2005, the cooperative has registered significant growth hence the need to diversify into feed manufacturing from dairy production.
Mr Chizongo noted that this is in an effort to promote value addition, and contribute to sustainable employment creation in the agriculture value chain sector.
He further thanked ZATP for the support, adding that the cooperative is in need of an additional K370, 000 to expand its feed processing business.
Credits : Zambia National Information Services and Zambia Agri Trade Project
Zambia Dairy and Beverage Expos 2024