By George Mponda

Karonga, February 25, Mana: Infrastructure Development Manager for Greenbelt Authority (GBA), Synoden Kautsi, has disclosed that a rice milling and processing plant at Nthola Ilola Irrigation Scheme in Karonga is set to start operating in two weeks’ time.

In an interview on Friday, Kautsi said construction works at the milling plant have been completed.

He added that Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) gave a list of required materilas for them to connect electricity and GBA has already engaged an electrical consultant.

"The facility is now at 99% complete and we are just waiting for electricity connection. It will also have its own transformer and once these are brought in by ESCOM, the plant will be operational within two weeks," he said.

Kautsi said, once fully operational, the plant will be able to mill 50 tonnes of rice per day and employ 100 workers.

2,500 anchor and out-grower farmers are expected to benefit from the plant.

Sub Traditional Authority Mwangolera commended GBA for the plant saying it will improve people’s livelihoods in his area.  

"This is the first project of its kind in the northern region. I am glad that people from my area will be employed at the factory and farmers around Nthola Ilola Irrigation Scheme will have a place to process their rice," Mwangolera said.

President for Nthola Ilola Water Users Association, Oswald Gondwe, said for a long time they have been processing their rice manually and the coming of the plant is a relief.

Construction of the K773 million plant began in May 2022.