By CHATULA KANGALI –
A LOCAL association in Mpongwe is establishing a peanut butter processing plant to enhance value addition to groundnuts and other crops.
The Bulima Seeds Growers Association of Mpongwe, whose core business is  to  buy  groundnut  seeds on behalf  of  the Government for distribution under the Farmer Input Support Programme, is keen on promoting diversification.
Mpongwe District Commissioner Keith Maila said the association was currently establishing a peanut butter processing plant in the area.
He said the association had procured machinery for processing groundnuts into peanut butter and was expected to start production before the end of this year.
Mr Maila said the processing  plant  would have a capacity to produce 20 tonnes  of  peanut butter per annum and provide jobs to more than 20 residents.
“The Bulima seeds growers have diversified, they are  now  going into processing  of  groundnuts and they are currently constructing  the building.
“They  have  already procured state-of-the-art machinery for  processing groundnuts into peanut  butter,” he said.
Mr Maila said the plant would be the first value-addition industry in the district.
He urged farmers to grow more groundnuts in the coming season to supply to the association for processing.
He expressed worry at the number of farmers selling groundnuts to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, which was  causing an artificial  shortage of the crop in the area.
Mr Maila also called   on the private sector to consider investing in other agro-processing activities in the district.
Mpongwe produces a number of crops that contribute significantly to the national food basket.
Mr Maila said the district was in need of investment that would add value to  the crops  produced in the area.