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  • Can mmmz make sunflower oil more widely available in Zambia?
  • The company will buy all sunflower produced by contracted out-growers. MMMZ wants to make sunflower oil more widely available in Zambia through this project. Sunflower oil is more nutritious than other edible oils and if processed from locally produced seed can be sold at prices which are affordable to low-income consumers.
  • How much is a bag of sunflower worth in Zambia?
  • A bag of sunflower, which weighs 25 kilograms, is sold in Zambia for 150 Zambia Kwacha (about $6.60 US). Most farmers prefer to sell their sunflower as seeds and grain rather than process it because they receive sales income immediately. However, by adding value to her sunflower harvest, Mrs. Kamuwikeni is making twice the money she used to make.
  • Who sells edible oil in Zambia?
  • They hold about 45% of the Zambian edible oil market. MMMZ has their own processing plant with an oilseed crusher (200,000MT/annum capacity) and an edible oil refinery (140,000MT/annum capacity). They sell refined oil to wholesalers and the hotel industry, big retailers and also offer oil through dispensers via smaller outlets.
  • Is sunflower a profitable crop?
  • Sunflower is a profitable crop for farmers as they can sell the by-product of sunflower cake. Mrs. Kamuwikeni plans to increase her income from sunflower by buying an oil expeller and connecting her farm to electricity to start processing oil on her own.
  • Why is sunflower a good crop for oil production?
  • Sunflower is a good crop for oil production because it offers more benefits compared to selling sunflower seeds. Farmers can sell the by-product, sunflower cake. Mrs. Kamuwikeni plans to buy an oil expeller and connect her farm to electricity so that she can start processing oil on her own.
  • How can we improve the quality of sunflower seeds?
  • They produce both blended and pure edible oils. Establish a sunflower out-grower scheme with 15,000 smallholder farmers in the Northern and Eastern provinces. Provide access to improved seeds and other inputs on credit, training and extension to increase productivity, output and quality.