Harare — Pork processor, Colcom Holdings has embarked on a new outgrower scheme to increase its slaughter capacity currently pegged at 32 percent.

Director of Triple C, a subsidiary of Colcom, Mark Swannack said recently that the scheme, code-named Zimbabwe Assured Quality Pig scheme (ZAQP), seeks to develop 12 nucleus breeding and fattening units which will increase production from 45 000 pigs to 95 000 within the next three years.

"We are initiating this scheme to satisfy the local and export demand which exceeds our slaughter capacity of 1 500 pigs per week, translating to 32 percent slaughter capacity," Swannack said.

He said Colcom has the capacity to slaughter about 5 000 pigs per week if production is high.

According to the out grower scheme which started in January this year, Colcom will establish breeding units in various provinces which they will provide with the necessary assistance.

"We have already established breeding units in various areas with 3 units carrying a total of 1 700 pigs already operating in Chinhoyi, Selous and Lions Den," he said.

"Our plan is to increase the breeding units to 12 which we will provide with pigs, stock feed, drugs and necessary assistance."

Meanwhile, Swannack commended the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) for rolling out the third phase of the agricultural mechanisation programme aimed at equipping farmers with machinery.

"We praise the efforts of the central bank as they are aimed at increasing the production capacity of farmers," he said.