Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
James Chirwa ZCF Director General
Zambia Cooperatives Federation Director General James Chirwa has encouraged farmers to take advantage and utilize the solar milling plants installed around the country in processing their maize into mealie meal for business.
Mr. Chirwa told Q News that the ZCF is aware of reports that some of the installed milling plants are dormant and not helping the communities in anyway.
He notes that some milling plants may be dormant because the communities themselves are not making use of them despite the fact that the sole purpose of the milling plants is to build capacity for cooperatives around the country and communities in general.
He has expressed concern that some farmers are waiting for the Food Reserve Agency or Grain Traders to purchase their maize instead of having it processed into mealie meal which they can sell and make a profit for themselves.
Mr Chirwa has noted that most farmers or maize traders are unaware that mealie meal is more profitable than maize.
He states that the federation will not hesitate to repossess the milling plants from those cooperatives who have been given the mandate to run them if they are not effectively utilizing them.
He has also revealed that currently a total of 450 solar milling plants have been installed around the country.