Multi-million kwacha rice plant ready July
Mtalimanja Holdings Limited (MHL) has said the construction of its $18.5 million (K8.3 billion) rice milling plant in Nkhotakota is on course.
MHL managing director David Kamchacha told Business News on Monday that the project will benefit some of the selected rice schemes and farmers.
The project, which is expected to be completed in July this year, will create jobs for a number of people in the district and surrounding areas.
Kamchacha said the project aims at reviving and transforming production of rice in the country.
Kamchacha said the first phase of plant installation by local and international engineers, which has cost MHL $8 million (about K3.5 billion), is complete.
MHL is currently developing more schemes that will boost rice production to meet local demand and export the excess to earn the country much-needed foreign exchange.
“It is evident that the small-scale farmers have been left out in Malawi’s efforts to attain great strides in agricultural activities. But given proper support, we believe that there are enough opportunities that could arise from agricultural exports and crop’s value chain,” he said.
Kamchacha said since Malawi is an agro-based economy, they will continue to focus on agriculture.
Studies have revealed that despite the significance of the crop to the economy, there is low output largely due to a lack of serious investments in the crop.
Kamchacha said, so far, there are 7 000 farmers working on the project and the company expects to produce rice at least twice annually once the project completes.
Agriculture experts have said, apart from addressing issues of value addition, the project will also give farmers a chance to get ready markets for their rice.
Earlier, MHL said it has already secured markets for Malawi rice in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and other European countries.
