By Annita Nc’ube
CRUSHERS and Edible Refiners Association Director Aubrey Chibumba says Zambia’s sunflower industry has suffered due to a lack of investment in research and development.
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Mr Chibumba said, since the privatisation of research institutions like ZARA, which were previously owned by the government, there has been a lack of new seed varieties. As a result farmers have been relying on old varieties, such as milica, which was developed by the government.
He added that other factors that have impacted the cultivation of sunflowers in Zambia include the geographic distribution of oil-pressing machines.
He said that only the Eastern Province, where there are many oil-pressing machines has seen a significant increase in the cultivation of sunflower.
Mr Chibumba said increasing the cultivation of sunflowerswill require investment in oil-pressing plants in other regions, which could help increase production .and government support for the development of a sunflower value chain, including the processing and marketing.
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