Friday, March 29, 2024

Msimuko Supports Jica-Endorsed Banana Paper Project In Mfuwe, Nyimba

...As he commends innovations towards greening the economy, poverty alleviation

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Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE) Permanent Secretary Mr. John Msimuko has assured JICA of Government support in the implementation of the Banana Paper Project, where banana stems are turned into paper.

According to a statement released to the media by Mr Chibaula Silwamba, Communications Officer at the Ministry Of Green Economy And Environment, One Planet Café, which has its headquarters in Japan, is implementing the Banana Paper Project in Mfuwe in Mambwe District, and expanding to Nyimba District, both in Eastern Province.

The Banana Paper Project purchases banana stems from small scale farmers and produce pulp that is exported to Japan and Europe to manufacture high grade paper.

Mr. Msimuko was speaking when One Planet Café Chief Executive Officer Ms. Satoko Ekberg, Director/Sustainability Producer Mr. Peo Ekberg, JICA Project Formulation Adviser Mr. Ishida Masa and JICA Programme Officer for Education and Private Development Sector Mr. Nyambe Nambayo recently paid a courtesy call on him and presented a brief about the Banana Paper Project.

Mr. Msimuko noted that the environmentally and socially friendly Project will be helpful in poverty reduction and economic empowerment while preserving the environment.

Mr. Msimuko noted that the Project fits well with the Government commitment to green the economy and positively transform the wellbeing of the people.

The Permanent Secretary said the Ministry of Green Economy will galvanise the support of other ministries and entities to support the Banana Paper Project.
And Ms. Ekberg said the Project is expected to have positive impact on the lives of the people in Mfuwe. She said the Banana Paper Project will help increase income levels, skills and knowledge of agriculture, and decrease poverty among participating small scale farmers.

Ms. Ekberg said the Project will further contribute to increase in production of eco-friendly organic bananas in Mfuwe and Nyimba Districts. She said the Project might be expanded to other parts of Zambia in future.

Meanwhile, Mr Masa said JICA was pleased with MGEE support towards the Banana Paper Project.

3 COMMENTS

  1. The banana paper project is good because it is an attempt to reduce the plastic environmental footprint and deforestation through the cutting down of trees for the production of paper with an environmentally cleaner technology. Such technologies include the use of rice and potato plants in the production of biodegradable packaging materials, for instance.

  2. A banana is grown in Zambia and then exported as a raw material-how does this fit with Gov. policy of value addition? And you have highly educated black people supporting such stupidity. a bunch of bananas is what? K20? and yet a rim of paper is K100. Paper is made out trees and trees are everywhere, including now, Bananas. Whats the cost of a paper making plant and supply this paper to all GRZ schools – using CDF capital.

  3. Guys we cant carry on like this, get out of your imported couch or mattress and start a project. There is no way a cafe based in Japan can fly down there only to start bananas and process them. Its not even a Paper manufacturing but a Cafe probably a Coffee Cafe doing experiments. Why cant you guys be creative? Just why?

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