A Zambian official has lamented the poor state of pineapple growing in the country despite having good quality soils for growing the fruit.
Foreign Minister Kabinga Pande expressed concern at the state of the sector on a recent visit to Mwinilunga in the north of the country, where he and other ministers led a team of prospective investors.
Mwinilunga is the main centre for pineapple growing in the country, and the town previously had a cannery where the fruit was processed for marketing.The cannery was, however, shut down several years ago and is now in a state of disrepair, leading to the infrastructure being vandalised.
Kabinga, said there was an urgent need now for the country to revive the industry and set up a new cannery. He encouraged the investors to set up partnerships with local entrepreneurs to grow and process the fruit for the export market.
It has been difficult for the government to attract investors to Mwinilunga despite its potential due to its remote location. In addition, the town has poor infrastructure and an unreliable supply of electricity and telecommunications, further discouraging the potential investors from coming forward to settle there.
African Press Agency
