Natural resources company launches dried fruit business in Tanzania
Obtala, which still owns majority positions in Paragon Diamonds and Bushveld Minerals as strategic investments, will own 80% of the business with the partner retaining the remaining 20%. Managing Director Simon Rollason pointed out that the new business was close to existing major markets and export facilities in Tanzania.
‘This project lies in close proximity to our sun dried tomato farm which remains on-course for first production in November 2013. Our objective is to produce a value added dried product on site which can be sold locally and into the export market.’
The land has 1,500 fruit bearing mango trees and Rollason said the plan was to plant out a substantial fruit tree orchard, with other high-yielding and high-value crops utilising up-to-date farming practices and irrigation to optimise margins and produce revenues all year round. ‘This project together with the recently announced cannery operation in Lesotho is in line with our development plans to re-position the company as a self-sustainable, profitable, African focused agribusiness and timber trading company with the focus on developing a vertically integrated company which will reap the benefits of value added production and branding.’
Source: ifamagazine.com
