Zambian cassava farmers appeal for processing plants

Peasant cassava farmers in Zambia's Copperbelt province have called on investors to set up a cassava milling plant to facilitate the processing of the crop into commercially viable products.

According to a local cassava farmer, Mushota Mulenga, there are approximately 600 cassava farmers on the Copperbelt producing over 1,000 tonnes of cassava annually which could be increased substantially if farmers had a ready market.

Mr Mulenga said he produces more than 30 tonnes of cassava per annum, but cannot increase the yield because of lack of a market. He said farmers would benefit tremendously from a mill which would also act as an impetus for them to increase production. “The land is very fertile to support cassava growing and investors could do well to invest in a cassava milling plant in the area,” he said.

Another cassava farmer, Wansongo Nyirenda said because of scarce market, some farmers have been forced to sell the produce to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola in the form of cassava chips. He said his approximately 50-tonne cassava yield per year, added to the production out-put of the other farmers, was substantial enough to warrant the establishment of a cassava milling plant.

According to Mr Nyirenda, the alternative was for the cassava farmers to be accorded affordable loans to be able to procure grinding machines with which to grind cassava meal for sale.
One of the weaknesses in Zambian agriculture has been the preponderance of one crop, maize as the main staple food crop for the majority of Zambians. This has, however, led to severe difficulties in the years when the maize crop has failed.

Times of Zambia