Manufacturers embark on research to spur sustainable agro-processing

Research to formulate a baseline of the potential value chains needed to spur sustainable agro-processing in the country has been embarked on by the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM).

This is being done through the Proudly Zambian Campaign (PZC) in an effort to attain high-quality end products by ensuring equally corresponding winputs into local production.

Proudly Zambian Campaign Project Assistant, Luaghano Miamba, said in an interview on Thursday that this research would assist in improving agricultural sector performance.

Miamba explained that a key requirement of market coordination was the use of research and development in exploring and identifying not only the key producers of raw materials (farmers), but also manufacturers, and consumers.

This, she pointed out, allowed for visualisation of the entire production process from beginning to end, waste reduction, increased efficiency, and most importantly, cross-functional collaboration.

She indicated that in essence, market coordination of value-added agriculture would significantly relied on holistic value chain mapping, targeted at uncovering backward and forward linkages.

“In view of the above facts and given the steps taken to facilitate investment in agribusiness and agro-industries thereby improving agricultural sector performance, it is imperative that key private and public actors amalgamate their efforts in accelerating economic growth through value-added agriculture.

“This will bode well for not only agriculture and manufacturing but for the country as a whole,” Miamba said.

She stated that market coordination, both vertical and horizontal, represented further uncharted territory for leveraging the potential of value-added agriculture in Zambia.

“The key rationale behind this strategy is that few farmers and producers possess all of the very sophisticated skills and resources necessary for processing, marketing, and business management, not to mention staying efficient with their production enterprises,” according to Miamba.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.