The ManicaPost
Tapiwa Mushonga Manica Post Correspondent
Government has applauded Associated Foods Zimbabwe for coming up with sustainable ways to scale up production at its food processing plant in Vumba, despite the difficult economic environment prevailing in the country.
Manicaland Provincial Administrator Mr Edgars Seenza said the company was running a vibrant outgrower pineapple scheme which it was seeking to grow to include other crops used in the production of their products.
“AFZ last year contracted farmers in Chimanimani to participate in an outgrower scheme to produce pineapples for their processing plant in Vumba. They want to grow the scheme to also include oranges and groundnuts for processing into peanut butter and canned fruit at the plant,” he said.
AFZ has been importing pineapples from Mozambique to supply the processing plant and last year, the company imported 40 tonnes of the fruit from the neighbouring country.
Mr Seenza said the outgrower scheme was a way to ensure that in the long term, the company could do away with imports and get 100 percent of their inputs from local farmers.
“I am happy to note that while other companies are downsising, AFZ has been upscaling production and coming up with ways to ensure that they stay in business.
“We want more farmers in the province to join these schemes so that they can also earn good income and improve their livelihoods,” he said.
