By XAVIER MANCHISHI –
CEREAL MILLERS in Mbala have started an out-grower scheme with farmers in Northern Province to encourage them to venture into wheat growing to boost the company’s flour production.
Cereal Millers manager Teddy Mazimba said currently, the company buys wheat from the Mkushi farming bloc which was expensive to transport to its plant in Mbala.
Speaking in an interview in Mbala, Mr Mazimba said the cooperative scheme will see Cereal Millers support farmers to grow wheat on its behalf.
“We have already bought tractors for the cooperatives. We want to ensure that farmers grow wheat in Northern province which will increase our flour productivity and that, our flour will be cheaper,” he said.
He said the company had already met farmers’ groups and asked them to engage the department of agriculture on growing the right variety of wheat.
Mr Mazimba said the company was also diversifying into production of cooking oil after entering into partnerships with farmers growing soya beans and sunflower.
The milling company is also targeting selling its products to towns outside Northern Province through major chain stores.
Cereal Millers produces 150 tonnes of mealie meal, 600 bags of white flour and 300 bags of brown flour per day.
Mr Mazimba said production levels fluctuate because sometimes Mbala receives low electricity voltage.
