About 1700 out of the targeted 20,000 cassava out-grower farmers for the 2019/20 farming season have been captured by Sunbird Bioenergy Africa in Kawambwa District.
Company Chief Executive Officer Richard Bennett has confirmed, following the launch of the out-grower scheme by President Edgar Lungu last month, adding that his company has been on a recruitment drive to capture local farmers.
Mr. Bennett who was impressed with the pace at which the registration of farmers was moving said his firm would meet the required mass of cassava stockpile meant for the production of ethanol.
He explained that the out-grower scheme would register 20,000 farmers once fully rolled out to the entire Luapula Province.
And Mr. Bennett has disclosed that the construction of the bioenergy refinery plant which would start this year was expected to be completed next year.
Meanwhile, Sunbird Bioenergy Project Manager Mark Muchinga said the registered out-grower farmers would be entitled to cassava planting materials, fertiliser, pesticides, agriculture extension services sale of the produce to the company among others as part of the Sunbird package.
Mr. Muchinga also noted that a total of 700 hectares had been inspected and actualised from the 348 farms as part of the out-grower scheme within a radius of 30 Kilometers in Kawambwa.
He said a good number of farmers who had signed up for the out-grower scheme had prepared their fields in readiness for planting this year.
He noted that the company had enough cassava planting materials to meet demand.
This is encouraging
Upnd will not like such kind of development. .Waiting for them ba under5 to comment.
Great! This is the way to go. My concern is the type of cassava variety that they want to introduce. We grow cassava without fertilizers and the use of chemical fertilizers may affect the soil and micro-organisms that are needed to keep the soil productive over long periods of time. Unless rotation is practiced, this may affect long term sustainability. I guess the experts have deliberated on it.
Sign of confidence in the pf economy. Kz
You grow food, sell to some company making billions and children go hungry. That company should change to milling company.
Wish that cassava was for eating, and worsting for bio-diesel. What is bioenergy by the way?
Are you normal….Someone gives you all the inputs and buys from you imwe chabipa. Crazy son of some bichi
@eye of eagle you are spot on! Cassave is better left to grow organically and any pests should be controlled organically.
These are often subsistence or peasant farmers who know nothing about finances. They get very little return from the deal. Because they have used their land to grow cash crops, they have no food for themselves. Half way through the year famine strikes. All the money is gone and there is no maize for the children. These sort of projects, if unchecked, can bring famine.