ZAMBIA – Kalene Hills Fruit Company, a subsidiary of Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), is slated to go into full-fledged production of various products in the second quarter of 2023.
The US$8 million fruit factory said it has acquired all the necessary operational compliances and permits from relevant regulatory bodies and the passing of the user acceptance test of its products.
The fruit and vegetable processing company has a processing capacity of 3-metric-tonnes-per-hour, IDC reveals on its website.
The 24,000 metric tonnes per annum processing plant will produce pineapple juice, pulps, sauces, purees, baked beans, bottled water, dry fruits, and canned fruits. It will also boost the production of its water brands that are already on the market.
Mr. Sunga told ZANIS in an interview that sample products of the intended products to be produced have already been certified safe for human consumption.
He explained that the factory is targeting both the local and international markets for its products. Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo are prime target markets for the factory due to their proximity to it.
Mr. Sunga has revealed that at full operational capacity, the factory will create about 200 direct jobs while over 6,000 indirect jobs will be created from out-grower schemes.
The out-grower schemes are co-managed by World Vision Zambia, Musika, and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Mr. Sunga explained that the factory will rely on the local market for the supply of feedstock, adding that work is being done to increase the out-grower schemes population from the current 6,000 to about 30,000 farmers in the first 48 months of its operations.
Kalene Hills Fruit Company Limited was established in 2017 in Mwinilunga District to enhance Zambia’s agro-processing sector.
The IDC partnered with local institutional investors such as NAPSA and Workers Compensation Fund Control Board to finance the project while engaging local contractors for project management and on-site construction labor.
Other partners, such as Musika, provided additional capacity in terms of transportation and mobile fruit washing machines.
Kalene Hills Fruit Company is expected to fill the nearly three decades’ void and facilitate Northwestern Province’s participation in the pineapple, mango, citrus, and tomato value chain.
During the commissioning ceremony, President Hichilema said investment in value addition was the only way to generate wealth and increase jobs, especially in rural areas.
He underscored that with prudent use of resources, factories such as Kalene Hills, could be replicated in all provinces.
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