Trust Freddy Herald Correspondent The University of Zimbabwe is now producing 25 000 loaves of bread daily under its Agro-Industrial Park, using a blend of orange-fleshed sweet potato and…
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
The University of Zimbabwe is now producing 25 000 loaves of bread daily under its Agro-Industrial Park, using a blend of orange-fleshed sweet potato and wheat flour in a move set to cut costs and strengthen nutrition.
UZ Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo disclosed the figure today during a tour of the university’s industrial facilities by a high-level ZANU PF Politburo delegation led by Secretary General Advocate Jacob Mudenda.
Prof Mapfumo said the sweet potato innovation was creating an alternative value chain that complements the traditional wheat value chain.
“That innovation is triggering a new value chain. We have the traditional wheat value chain, but now we also have a sweet potato value chain that is more inclusive,” Prof Mapfumo said.
“It allows every farmer and household in rural and agricultural areas to participate.”
He added that blending sweet potato with wheat flour was deliberate to reduce production costs while improving the nutritional value of bread consumed by the public.
“We are blending orange-fleshed sweet potato with wheat flour. That reduces costs while boosting nutritional value,” he said.
The bulk of the bread is distributed to small and medium enterprises in Harare and surrounding areas including Hatcliff, Domboshava, Mazowe and Nyabira through the university’s Nu Gold brand delivery trucks.
“The university has deployed its own delivery trucks supplying both bread and cooking oil to SMEs and communities around Harare,” Prof Mapfumo said.
“We are currently producing about 25 000 loaves per day, with the bulk of the bread being delivered to SMEs.”
The bread production forms part of UZ’s wider Education 5.0 industrialisation drive.
Accompanying the Secretary General were Secretary for Education, Ideology and Research Cde Charles Tawengwa; Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa; Secretary for War Veterans Affairs Cde Douglas Mahiya; Deputy Secretary for Security Cde Tendai Chirau; Secretary for Business Development Cde Eliphas Mashaba; and Senator Dr James Makamba, among other senior party officials
Secretary for Education, Ideology and Research Cde Charles Tawengwa said the progress at UZ demonstrated that Education 5.0 was moving from policy to production and must now be upscaled to meet national demand.
The university’s industrial thrust is aligned to Government’s Vision 2030 target of achieving an upper-middle-income economy driven by science, technology and innovation.
