Industry and Commerce Permanent Secretary Dr Thomas Wushe has commended National Foods Limited (NFL) for its significant contribution to industrial development through agro-processing.

“I understand that National Foods is a leading company in agro-processing and has an average market share of 50% on its different product lines. This represents the significant contribution being made by National Food Holdings Limited in the country’s industrial development through agro-processing,” he said.

Dr Wushe made the remarks during his tour of National Foods Limited’s Sterling and Aspindale food processing plants recently.

He reiterated that the NFL’s investments in traditional food processing are in line with Government policy.

“I am glad to hear that the company has recently invested in a processing line for traditional small grains and cereal crops. This is in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) on moving the economy up the value chains and structural transformation,” said Dr Wushe.

He urged the food manufacturing company to continue to support the agricultural sector saying it was the main source of raw materials in the food processing industry.

“I urge National Foods Holdings Limited to support the agricultural sector through contract farming. This will ensure that the company will get the much-needed raw materials for production and increase its capacity utilization,” said Dr Ushe.

Last year, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr John Basera once commended NFL’s contribution to food security and industrial development.

“We are impressed by their contribution, especially to food security with a slant towards food self-sufficiency in Zimbabwe.

“We are also impressed with the capital expenditure investments, which are inclining towards automation, modernization and also trying to improve the production and processing efficiencies so that ultimately as a country and industry, we are competitive,” said Dr Basera.