We Can !! Basotho Cannery Reaffirms its Old Motto |
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Basotho Cannery, an asparagus and vegetable canning project at Masianokeng,
some eight kilometres south of the capital Maseru, is to be re-opened
following its closure in 1999, the Minister of Trade, Industry, Cooperatives
and Marketing, Mr. Mpho Malie, has announced. Announcing the re-opening at a press briefing recently, the Minister announced that the factor would expand its operations to include the production of peach juice, dried and canned peaches. Government had received over M3 million from the World Trade Organisation to help in the peach products production. The money would be used mainly in research and feasibility studies. "Asparagus production is progressing satisfactorily at the moment and we hope that in a year or two, its harvest will boom, " Mr. Malie said, adding that this time round farmers will rely on irrigation rather than the rains for their farming. Basotho will be encouraged to grow peaches of high quality though second grade peaches will be used for super flavoured peach juice, dried peach, and jam production. Peach liqueur production, a light aperitif used during meals, would also be attempted, the Minister said. Government is also looking into the establishment of a canned mushrooms factory, where the WTO finance would help in researching the viability of the project, Mr. Malie said. The Cannery was established in 1976, producing mainly asparagus for export to Europe but folded in 1999 due to water and administrative problems. 27 September 2004 |
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| SOURCE: Lesotho Today |