NATIONAL Milling Corporation (NMC) has set up a rice processing plant in Mongu in an effort to increase its intake of local rice and save foreign exchange on the imported commodity which has become expensive, managing director Peter Cottan has said.
The plant would polish the rice to be supplied by local farmers in Mongu and other districts in Western Province.
Mr Cottan said in Lusaka that the company which had been importing rice in the past, would now concentrate on the local market as a way of empowering local farmers too, running away from the high costs of importing the commodity.
He said rice prices on the international market had tripled in the last three years, while production levels had reduced drastically due to climatic change.
“National Milling’s rice procurement three years ago was 10,000 tonnes per year but has now reduced to 4,000 tonnes per year because importation of rice has now become expensive,” he said.
Mr Cottan said, through the introduction of the local procurement initiative, the company had partnered with the Government to provide a ready market for the local farmers and also to create employment for Zambians.
“We hope that this will encourage the farmers to move from small-scale rice farming to specialised commercial farming,” he said.
For the firm to meet the demand on the local market, National Milling requires to be procuring a total of 10,000 tonnes every year.
“As National Milling, we decided to encourage our local rice farmers by coming up with this initiative of procuring rice locally, even though they are still far from meeting the demands of the market,” he said.
The company plans to extend the rice procurement facility to Chama district in Eastern Province, which also has viable farmers with potential to produce more rice but are limited by lack of market for their produce.
Mr Cottan said NMC was providing employment in many parts of Zambia, as many Zambians were being engaged through its 60 sales outlets.
The NMC chief said the company has plans to expand the network of sales outlets and would soon be opening two more in Mumbwa and Chirundu.
[Times of Zambia]
Well done NMC.
I’m sure you may have plans to also diversify into Cashew,Mango,Pineapples,Groundsnuts,Coffee to name but a few as these are potential creators of employment and wealth country wide.
Despite being away from home,some of us not your commitment in Sports and giving value for local products.
Cottan for Chancellor of the Kwacha!!
This is very good news more especially in Mongu. This will surely add to job creation, improve agriculture and help meet the rice demands in the nation.
Bravo National Milling; this confirms your name as national. The people of Baroseland need investors like you. Diversify as Makweti has indicated (//1.above). Cashew is good business too.
Job creation, a market for rice farmers. Somebody tell Mr Hatontola that is the kind of news that wins votes, not talking red card and all the other R.U.B.B.I.S.H. in the Post, all the time.
Good news.
I hope this will raise the quality of rice supplied by local farmers. It’s terrible when you chew sand hidden in rice!!
A few cardinal points –
1) Rice imports – what was the main reason for importing. Was it insufficient supply in Zambia, quality of rice, or were imports cheaper? Is this scenario now addressed, so we can be sure local producers will have a market in future.
2) Exports – article suggests global rice market is booming. Can we please also target this market in addition to local market. This will strength Zed’s forex position.
3) Local procurement initiative, plus Govt partnership. What exactly is this arrangement? Is it Govt subsidy? How long will it last? What’s the impact on rice production if it’s withdrawn?