The COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB)-Malawi chapter has launched a sunflower oil processing plant to process sunflower into cooking oil.
The plant, located in Nsambo, Lilongwe will also help members under the federation to acquire knowledge on how they can venture into value addition.
COMFWB Malawi chapter chairperson Selina Mwenelupembe has said the federation decided to invest in the sector after noticing it’s potential.
Mwenelupembe said the commissioning of the K4.1 million plant also follows requests by some members who wanted the federation to go commercial.
“As a coalition of business women in Malawi, we sat down and agreed to venture into this business after noticing the potential to earn serious profit,” she said.
Mwenelupembe said through the business, COMFWB would enter into partnerships with sunflower farmers across Lilongwe who will be primary suppliers of raw materials.
“We want this plant to not only benefit us as investors but also the local farmers,” said Mwenelupembe.
The plant is expected to process 1,000 litres of cooking oil per week.
“Of course that volume is relatively small when we compare to the number of customers in need of high-quality cooking oil and that’s why plans are there to expand,” she added.
Meanwhile, Trade and Industry spokesperson Patrick Botha has commended the federation for commissioning the plant, saying it will help to stabilise prices of cooking oil on the local market.
“As a ministry, we are grateful because to us it shows that Malawians are geared to move out of poverty,” said Botha.
