The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Italian government have given Zambia 1,081,000 United States dollars for the cassava commercialization project.
National Cassava Commercialization project Coordinator Alick Daka disclosed this in Samfya when he begun a seven day stakeholder sensitization tour of the integrated production and processing of cassava in the area.
Mr Daka said the two year project will be carried out in Samfya, Mansa and Serenje districts.
He said FAO has contributed USD 331,000 while the Italian government has provided USD 750,000 towards the cassava commercialization project.
He said the USD331,000 given by FAO will be spent on increasing the quality of cassava production and value added activities in Samfya, Serenje and Mansa districts.
Mr Daka said on the other hand the USD750,000 from the Italian government will be used to develop market linkages for the crop for local and foreign consumers.
He said in improving the quality of cassava production, technical support will be directed at developing cost effective multiplication and distribution of improved cassava varieties.
“USD 10,000 , about K36 million will be invested in the expansion of two hectares of cassava cuttings nurseries at Mansa Agriculture Research Institute for multiplication of improved cassava varieties,” Mr Daka said.
He said to enhance processing of the cassava, small scale processing technologies will be developed, while new products that will allow blending with cassava will also be enhanced.
He disclosed that Tiger Feeds had already developed a stock feed that is blended with cassava and will be buying 1000 tonnes every month from the farmers in the project area.
Mr. Daka added that said a cassava processing plant is being installed in Mansa to be producing Vitamin ‘A’ fortified cassava meal that will be supplied to refugee camps under a United Nations Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) offer.
Thats it! No more fishing. We will be richer from our cassava gardens
Im intersted in the stock feed component of cassava, but at this point in time I do not believe that tiger animal feeds will use cassava in thier feeds on a large scale unless there is a significant cost saving. Which in terms of transport from Mansa is in my opinion not likely
I precisely wanted to say thanks again. I am not sure what I might have used in the absence of the actual pointers shared by you concerning such area. It absolutely was the terrifying setting in my view, however , taking a look at this expert tactic you managed the issue made me to leap for fulfillment. I will be happier for the information and thus hope you really know what an amazing job that you are doing teaching most people via your webpage. More than likely you’ve never come across any of us.