Zambeef Plc, the largest integrated agri-business company in Zambia says Zambia has potential to be self-sufficient in cooking oil production in the next 10 years.
The company said the country can achieve this through the contribution of its multi-million dollar ZamPalm project.
Zambeef Chief Executive Officer Francis Grogan said the ZamPalm project in Mpika district in Muchinga province to create 2,000 new jobs in the remote Chinama area of Chief Kopa’s chiefdom will transform the outlook for Zambia’s edible oils industry and could save more than US$50 million on an annual basis in foreign exchange.
Dr. Grogan said Zambeef has so far spent US$16 million (more than K100 million) on a 2,132 hectarage ZamPalm project which is due to start production at the end of this year producing an initial 1,400 tonnes of crude palm oil in the first season.
“Zambeef is confident that its new ZamPalm project will transform the outlook for Zambia’s edible oils industry and have a significant impact in helping to reduce the drain on the country’s balance of payments caused by the current import of oil from abroad,” Mr. Grogan said
He said an additional 50,000 tonnes are expected to be produced in the year 2020 as his firm develops the 20,100 hectares of the plantation in coming years.He said Zambeef has already conducted considerable feasibility on the ZamPalm project as well as carried out an environmental land assessment and impact.
Zambia consumes around 90,000 tons of cooking oil per year and only produces around 25,000 tons from soybeans with the shortfall having to be imported.
The country imports 70,000 tonnes of crude palm oil and spends approximately US$56 million (around K380 million) a year to buy the commodity.
SO UZANVELA BA PF BOASTING ITS THEIR INITIATIVE when this project started in 2007
Not even MMD can claim to have initiated the project! This is a private sector initiative. In a free market economy, the government providdes an enabling environment for free enterprise to thrive. There is absolutely nothing political about it!
Very true @Akamanampemba. Commendable though
very vew will comment on such productive topics
This is worth talking about instead of the Hapunda wafflings
and your ruwe waffings.
Great job Zambeef Plc.
Zambeef=Racism+Imperialism+Cheating us Zambians+making abnormally high profits off the backs off poor underpaid Zambians.
I pray for the day Zambeef assets will be nationalised and Mr Grogan will be arrested for embezzlement and poisoning Zambians.
palm oil is non – consumable . it has side effects !
I do not think they are being accurate here, the foreign investors and Hedge fund managers are buying large tracts of land in Africa exactly for growing palm oil as the envisage a shortage of palm oil given that this versatile oil is a major ingredient in almost every product ie. can be found in one in two supermarket products, ranging from margarine, cereals, crisps, sweets and baked goods, to soaps, washing powders and cosmetics.
Zambeef is simply positioning itself…So people Zambeef is looking at the international market (not the domestic market) where this product is more lucrative to export like our copper.
@chris
You need to get your facts correct….it is far more nutritious than your average Rapeseed cooking oil, don’t you know that in Luapula Province where locals have a vitamin A deficiency due to their largely fish diet…there is an NGO programme to encourage to locals grow it and use it in their cooking as supplements this Vitamin deficiency in their diet. If the deficiency is not corrected,one of the most common symptom is the outer layers of the eyes become dry, thickened, and cloudy, eventually leading to blindness if left untreated.
West Africans use it in there cooking all the time and I use it as well for cooking stew and sauces…try it!!
@chris
You need to get your facts correct….it is far more nutritious than your average Rapeseed cooking oil, don’t you know that in Luapula Province where locals have a vitamin A deficiency due to their largely fish diet…there is an NGO programme to encourage to locals grow it and use it in their cooking as supplements this Vitamin deficiency in their diet. If the deficiency is not corrected,one of the most common symptom is the outer layers of the eyes become dry, thickened, and cloudy, eventually leading to blindness if left untreated.
West Africans use it in there cooking all the time and I use it as well for cooking stew and sauces…try it!!
I do not think they are being accurate here, the foreign investors and Hedge fund managers are buying large tracts of land in Africa exactly for growing palm oil as the envisage a shortage of palm oil given that this versatile oil is a major ingredient in almost every product ie. can be found in one in two supermarket products, ranging from margarine, cereals, crisps, sweets and baked goods, to soaps, washing powders and cosmetics.
Zambeef is simply positioning itself…So people Zambeef is looking at the international market (not the domestic market) where this product is more lucrative to export like our copper.
This is not the type of investment we need no, Zambeef are very exploitative and treat their workers like slaves. These 2000 jobs are almost certainly casual jobs not permanent. What infrastructure are they going to put up? Look at Chisamba and how much of a sorry sight that Huntly farm of theirs looks, the terrible accomodation for their general workers, but kwena mwe sorry but why does Zambeef seem to get away with daylight robbery. And what ever happened to the formaldehyde poisoning saga? No arrests, no fines. What is interesting is they want to take up 20,000 hectares who is giving them this land? Guy Scott sir don’t be a hypocrite, don’t give these capitalists/ imperialists that are parasites our birth right,our land so that they can just poison us and destroy the land.