By HELEN ZULU –
FALLSWAY Timbers Limited Group of companies is set to start processing tomatoes at the fruit and vegetable processing unit in Livingstone.
The fruit and vegetable processing unit, which is expected to be commissioned this year, was built at a cost of US$3 million.
Group chairperson, Shayam Vora said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
He said the Group was expected to commence the processing of tomatoes this month.
Mr Vora said the fruit and vegetable processing unit had provided a market to more than 2,000 small-scale farmers in Livingstone, Kazungula, Zimba, Sesheke and Kalomo districts, as well as other surrounding areas in Southern Province.
He said the company had already started processing mangoes and would later in the year start the processing of oranges, onions, garlic, lemons, chilli, dry beans and honey into various end products.
Mr Vora said for other fruits, the production would not depend on supply from other producers but that the company would produce its own fruits and vegetables and add value to them.
The Group was targeting to process 9,000 tonnes of vegetables and fruits in the first five months of production.
Mr Vora also disclosed that the Group was planning to construct a shopping mall and a three-star hotel in Choma at a cost of $15 million.
He said about 10 hectares of land for the project had already been acquired.
The project was expected to create about 50 direct jobs and 200 indirect jobs with an additional 200 through tenants at the shopping mall once completed.
Mr Vora said the construction of the mall and the hotel was expected to start as soon as the Group was able to access a loan from financial institutions to be able to finance the project.
The Group’s plan to invest in Choma followed a market survey which showed that investment in the district would be viable.