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  • Can palm oil from Zambia cut back on crude oil imports?
  • The plantation boasts 2,800 hectares of palm plants, which when harvested will produce crude palm oil that is the basic ingredient in most vegetable oils on the market in Zambia. The locally produced palm oil will enable government to cut back on crude palm oil imports which currently stand at over US$70 million annually.
  • What is zampalm in Mpika?
  • Zampalm in Mpika is Zambia’s first ever palm plantation. The plantation boasts 2,800 hectares of palm plants, which when harvested will produce crude palm oil that is the basic ingredient in most vegetable oils on the market in Zambia.
  • Is Zambia suitable for growing palm oil?
  • Although Zambia is not a traditional growing region for palm oil, it offers a competitive advantage due to its proximity to consumers in the region. The cost of importing edible oil from the Far East can account for around a third of its retail price, making it worthwhile to grow palm oil in Zambia despite the lower yields.
  • What is the edible oil market in Zambia?
  • The market for edible oils in Zambia, of which palm oil is one component, is estimated at 120,000 tonnes per year, and this is expected to continuing growing as the country develops further. More than half of Zambia’s edible oil consumption is imported from the Far East, East Africa and South Africa.
  • Where does mmmz produce edible oil?
  • MMMZ produces edible oils for sale in Zambia. They source 95% of their inputs (soyabean, sunflower seeds and cotton seeds) from smallholder farmers across Southern, Central and Eastern provinces. They also import crude palm oil from Mozambique for processing and sale in the Zambian market. They hold about 45% of the Zambian edible oil market.
  • 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.