A processing factory to produce juice from wild fruits, tubers and roots will soon be opened in the central province of Manica. This will be the first of its kind in Mozambique.

The factory is being set up in Mpunga, in Sussundenga district, by the MICAIA Foundation as part of the community project "Ndzou Camp Lodge".

Ndzou Camp is in the heart of the Moribane Forest Reserve, which is part of the Chimanimani Conservation Area.

The districts of Gondola, Sussundenga, Manica and Chimoio have an abundance of plants and fruit, and the factory will specialise in processing juice from the "madumbe" root which is thought to be highly nutritious. The factory will also use locally grown bananas.

These facts were revealed by the Executive Director of MICAIA, Milagre Nuvunga, during a visit to Ndzou Camp by the Minister of Tourism, Carvalho Muaria.

Nuvunga explained that the construction of the processing unit was completed last month following a six month delay. They are now waiting for the arrival of the machinery.

Ndzou Camp was opened in November 2010. As well as a lodge, it has a campsite and rondavels for visitors. Its main emphasis is on informing visitors about the biodiversity of the Moribane Forest and the local community. One of the key attractions is walking safaris to see the forest elephants.

It is a joint venture between MICAIA and Associacao Kubatana Moribane (the local community association). Funding for the project has come from the World Bank as part of its Transfrontier Conservation Area programme.