• The focus has purely been in the Agribusiness sector.
• The Covid-19 pandemic has had a strain on the ability of the project to reach out to the intended target.
• the Project is basically focused on supporting producer groups and small businesses

Zambia Agribusiness Trade Project (ZATP) says it has been able to identify about 168 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) out of over 450 reached out to help grow their business.

ZATP Senior Agribusiness Specialist Wilfred Mufwambi told Money FM News in an interview that the project being managed through Ministry of Commerce Tarde and Industry has been giving technical assistance and matching grants to SME’s as both areas are critical for SME’s to grow.

Mr. Mufwambi stated the focus has purely been in the Agribusiness sector under areas focus such as Meat Processing, Milling, Fish value addition, peanut butter and traditional commodities such as caterpillar and Chikanda.

“I must say the project is on an upward swing so far we have been able to identify about 168 SME’s that we are working with.” He said.

Mr. Mufwambi however noted the Covid-19 pandemic has had a strain on the ability of the project to reach out to the intended target.

“We had to adapt and re-use online platforms to actually reach out to potential beneficiaries.” he explained.

The Senior Agribusiness Specialist explained that the Project which has been running since 2017 is basically focused on supporting producer groups and small businesses that are into value addition to increase the potential of the Zambian product to compete effectively on the market.