National Milling Corporation, a local unit of the United States based Seaboard Corporation, with a history dating back more than 90 years had invested in a new plant meant to grow its Zambian Business.
Commissioning the modern US$ 37.5 million National Milling plant in Lilayi on 11 October 2019, Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu stated that ‘‘this investment by National Milling and indeed other investments across the country are a clear indication that the private sector is responding positively to the conducive business environment in the country’’.
The Zambian leader reaffirmed government’s commitment to curb the power deficit, which is negatively affecting agricultural production. He further stated that ‘‘wheat being an irrigated crop, our farmers are faced with a number of challenges to grow it. One notable challenge is the current power deficit which is affecting wheat yields and profitability’’, president Lungu said.
He added that the plant, which has a production capacity of four million metric tonnes will first start milling 600 metric tonnes of Wheat per day and later begin the processing of Maize after 12 months. Wheat and maize contribute significantly to national food security, president Lungu said.
He therefore, urged local farmers to grow more wheat to meet the market demand, but cautioned against abandoning Cassava farming, which is easy to grow and is drought – resistant in the wake of climate change effects. The president said Cassava has many industrial uses and is the second largest food crop, which can support Government’s strategy to uplift the welfare of small- scale farmers.
Minister of Agriculture Michael Katambo expressed gratitude and thanked government for standing with the farming community in the midst of climate change devastating effects. NMC managing director David Bosse said the new milling plant took about five years to be completed.
