By JOHN CHOLA
Zambia’s first cassava processing facility has taken off in Chitambo, spearheaded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), benefitting more than 6,200 farmers in Chitambo and its surrounding areas.
The K86.5 million cassava plant, funded with the support of the African Development Bank’s Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), was officially launched by IDC CEO Cornwell Muleya.
The facility, which is 70 per cent owned by IDC and 30 per cent by the Chitambo District Cooperative Union, can process 120 metric tonnes of cassava daily.
It will produce cassava meal, starch, and animal feed, helping to commercialise the crop and integrate local farmers into value chains serving industries such as baking, textiles, and breweries.
Muleya emphasised that the initiative would play a crucial role in the region’s economic development, promoting inclusive growth.
He added that the plant had already been certified by the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), making it fully operational.
“At IDC, we believe that this initiative will not only bring inclusive economic activity but will also foster development to this central region of our country,” said Muleya.
The facility employs 29 staff members, with direct jobs expected to increase to 86 and indirect employment to 4000 as operations expand.
The launch was officiated by Agriculture Minister Reuben Mtolo Phiri, who highlighted the alignment of the project with Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan (2022–2026) and the newly introduced Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP).
Mtolo noted that the cassava processing plant would significantly contribute to the country’s goal of value addition in agriculture.
Central Province Minister Mwabashike Nkulukusa echoed these sentiments, emphasising the potential of cassava production in the region, which had long been limited by a lack of processing facilities.
“The province’s large cassava cultivation area was underutilised. With this plant, farmers will now have more opportunities to grow and sell their cassava,” he said.
African Development Bank Country Manager Raubil Durowoju praised the project as a milestone for agro-industrialization in Zambia, “This facility will connect farmers to markets and enable them to transform raw cassava into competitive products for local and international markets.”
His Royal Highness Chief Chitambo called on farmers to scale up cassava cultivation to meet the increasing demand, underscoring the plant’s potential to improve livelihoods and enhance food security in the region.
The Chitambo cassava plant represents a crucial step in diversifying Zambia’s agricultural economy and supporting rural development by empowering smallholder farmers.
