SARO UNMVEILS MASSIVE MAIZE MILLING PLANT

By NOEL IYOMBWA

SARO unveiled Zambia's first-everlocally designed and built-up 10 Tonne Per Day Maize Milling Plant, marking a significant milestone in the country's industrial landscape. 

This groundbreaking achievement underscored SARO's commitment to innovation and the advancement of Zambia's agricultural sector.

The milling plant, meticulously designed and manufactured by SARO, boasts of a comprehensive suite of components tailored for efficient maize processing.

At its core, the plant features a maize cleaner, a Grain Storage Hopper, and three Dehullers, ensuring seamless operation even in the event of a dehuller downtime. This resilience ensures uninterrupted production, crucial for meeting the demands of local communities.

Integral to the plant's functionality is a hammermill, adept at processing hulled maize into the beloved staple, Breakfast Mealie Meal. 

Moreover, SARO's commitment to environmental sustainability is evident with the inclusion of a dust filter, mitigating environmental dust and promoting cleaner air quality.

This landmark achievement was made possible through collaboration with the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission(CEEC), highlighting the power of public-private partnerships in driving economic development. 

The procurement of this state-of-the-art facility for a cooperative in Chavuma, North Western Province, underscores the Government's commitment to fostering growth and prosperity at the grassroots level. 

The unveiling ceremony was graced by Elias Mubanga, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development.

Mr. Mubanga said government is determined to see to it that people rural parts of the country do not walk long distances to access hammers mills.

Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Elias Mubanga said his ministry working with the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission is empowering rural communities with hammermills.

Mr. Mubanga thanked SARO Agro for manufacturing the milling plant which will be delivered to a cooperative in Chavuma district in North Western province to service the people.

The minister said his office has directed CEEC to empower rural communities with hammer mills in all the districts.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank SARO for manufacturing a milling plant, it is the policy of government to bring industries to the people and it was a directive from President Hichilema to empower citizens.

“This small milling plant is going to Chavuma district in North Western province and it will be servicing the people of Kabompo, Zambezi and the surrounding areas.

 “We want to say that we are going to other rural areas to give hammer mills to the people, we are on it through the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission whom we have told to empower people small hammer mills which are 5 to 10 Tonnes per day, “he said.

The minister was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary Subeta Mutelo and Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission Director general Dr Charles Mungule.

And Dr Mungule said the idea of taking hammer mills to the furthest points is to reduce costs on the part of the consumers.

He observed that people in rural areas pay more because suppliers add transport costs.

Dr Mungule said the beneficiaries of the milling plant will be cooperative in Chavuma district.

He noted that the only thing which is remaining is finding structure where the milling plant will be housed.

“The idea of these plants is to cut oncosts and in terms of beneficiaries of the milling plant it will be Cooperative in Chavuma district and the only thing which is remaining is finding the structure where this plat will be.

 “We are empowering all districtsbecause we have observed that there districts that have not benefited. We hope that the facility will be put to good use, “he said.

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