By John Chola
Chitambo District is set to witness a significant boost in its agricultural economy with the commissioning of Zambia’s first cassava processing facility.
The project, spearheaded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), is expected to benefit over 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 Program (GAFSP), was officially launched by IDC CEO Cornwell Muleya.
The facility, which is 70 percent owned by IDC and 30 percent by the Chitambo District Cooperative Union, has a capacity to process 120 metric tonnes of cassava daily.
It will produce cassava meal, starch, and animal feed, helping to commercialize the crop and integrate local farmers into value chains serving industries such as baking, textiles, and breweries.
Muleya emphasized that the initiative would play a crucial role in the region’s economic development, promoting inclusive growth.
He added that the plant has 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 currently employs 29 staff members, with direct jobs expected to increase to 86 and indirect employment to 4,000 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, emphasizing 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 underutilized. With this plant, farmers will now have more opportunities to grow and sell their cassava,” he said.
African Development Bank Country Manager Mr. Raubil Durowoju also 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 both local and international markets,” he said.
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 through the empowerment of smallholder farmers.
