ZAMBIA LAUNCHES FOOD PROCESSING PLANT

Zambia has in the past seen many foods including fruits rotting due to lack of processing plants. This situation is now changing as the defunct Zambia Horticultural Company takes a new shape.

As calls for diversification of the Zambian economy continue, more developments are being made in the agriculture sector which will see more than five thousand peasant farmers get business. Freshpikt a fruit and vegetable canning and processing plant has been commissioned at a cost of US 5million dollars with support of the American government and some Zambian investors.

Speaking when he officiated at the opening event, Zambian President Rupiah Banda says the plant has come at a time when the country’s agriculture sector is faced with challenges of agro processing and value addition.

“I am happy to commission this plant which I was first Managing Director and I believe it will contribute to exports of Zambian products,” President Banda says.
And American Embassy Charge de Affaires Micheal Koplovsky says broad based economic growth is key to economic growth as Zambia poverty rates especially in rural areas have remained high despite the recent economic growth.

“The American governments is committed to contributing to economic development of Zambia and help it attain the vision 2030 of becoming a middle income country,” He says.
And Freshpikt chairman and prominent Lusaka businessman Chance Kabaghe expressed happiness with the quality of the processed foods. Mr. Kabaghe who is also Zambia Association of Manufacturers –ZAM- President says the company processes more than twenty locally grown products.
“ Our products are already becoming competitive in the Southern African region because they are meeting internationally accepted standards,” says Mr. Kabaghe.

History of fresh pikt
Freshpikt has succeeded the defunct Zambia Horticultural Products Limited -ZAMHORT- whose first Managing Director was now Zambian President Rupiah Banda.
The plant which was financed by the Italian AID to Zambia at a cost of 28million US Dollars was privatized following economic reforms initiated in the 1990s.
Freshpikt is expected to provide employment to more than five hundred people mainly women.
By Brian Mwale