Mwinilunga Member of Parliament Newton Samakayi has urged the Zambia environmental management agency –zema- to expedite the approval processes for setting up a pineapple processing plant in the area.

Mr Samakayi tells Phoenix Business that the industrial development corporation –IDC- was this year expected to commence the setting up of a $4 million pineapple processing plant in Mwinilunga but approval processes by relevant institutions have delayed the process.

The Mwinilunga lawmaker says speeding up of the approval process will also reduce the wastage of pineapples due to lack of a processing plant.

Mr Samakayi is confident that once actualized, the project will provide a ready market for the more than 3,000 farmers who will be incorporated in the initial out grower scheme in Mwinilunga, Lumwana west and Ikelenge districts.

PHOENIX NEWS