adminFairness Moyana, Hwange Correspondent
JAMBEZI Small Grains Seed Producers (Jaspro) is looking for an investor to assist the community-owned company in expanding its milling capacity and market share.
The company which has been facing challenges in regularising its operations with the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) is finalising the standardisation process after successfully registering as an SME with the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development.
In an interview, the company’s technical advisor, Mr Binwell Sibanda said they were now in the process of shifting attention to market penetration and expansion of market pending the finalising of registration with product regulator, SAZ.
“I’m glad to say we are at an advanced stage in terms of rationalising our operations with SAZ. You would be aware that the setback had resulted in us failing to penetrate the market let alone expand as retailers were shunning our products citing fears over failure to display expiry dates on our millet and sorghum products. However, we have since been working on ensuring our paperwork which includes registration, constitution and other relevant documents are in order.
“We have also developed a business model that will ensure professional running of the company and profitability. Hence it is for this reason that we seek an investor to partner with us on the expansion and marketing side. We are looking for someone who can bring in 50 percent or more of what we have that is in terms of funding or machinery,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said the potential partner would be responsible for the expansion and marketing of the company’s millet and sorghum produce to larger markets such as hotels, restaurants and retailers countrywide.
The company is currently milling at low levels with its product being sold to individuals and few restaurants in the region.
Jaspro, a community owned and run company was commissioned in 2014 but has since then failed to yield the expected results mostly because of lack of funding to register its operations with SAZ. It has more than 1 000 famers against a target of 10 000 who are able to supply them with grain.
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