TARABA STATE GOVERNMENT FINALIZES ARRANGEMENT TO INVITE INVESTORS TO PARTNER MAMBILLA BEVERAGES LIMITED 03-08-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Taraba State Government says has arrangement has been finalized to invite private investors to evaluate and collaborate with Mambilla Beverages Limited in Kakara, Sardauna Local Government Area to reinvigorate the company.
This is contained in a statement released to newsmen by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Yusuf Sanda on Sunday 4th August 2024.
During his visit to the largest beverages company in West Africa and producers of popular Highland tea and Green tea, Governor Agbu Kefas announced that he will soon lead a team to Kenya to bring in experts and investors to modernize the company, enabling it to meet the growing local demands for its tea and for export.
This move is essential as two other companies have recently emerged in Nguroje and Maisamari on the Mambila Plateau, posing a competitive challenge that the company must prepare for.
Kefas Ph.D, also expressed concern about erosion threatening the company’s plantation due to silt caused by erosion, which he emphasized are the effects of global warming and climate change.
To address this, he pledged to provide new tractors for the company from the stock purchased by the State Government, with the condition that the company would pay for the machines.
Mr. Timothy Fanya, the Managing Director of the company, highlighted the challenges of obsolete machines and equipment, encroachment by local farmers and herders, and the uprooting of its tea plants.
He also emphasized the urgent need for dredging of about 50 hectares of tea plantation affected by silting.
Furthermore, the company plans to diversify into the cultivation and processing of coffee and economic trees.
Before inspecting the tea factory, the governor made a stopover at Segem Dam and also examined the four hundred kilowatts twin turbines mini hydro electricity generation company, which supplies power to the tea factory.
The site engineer informed the Governor that the mini hydro power station could be scaled up to a one-megawatt capacity, providing uninterrupted power to the adjacent communities.
During the visit, Governor Agbu Kefas toured the company to observe the tea processing and packaging procedures and concluded the visit by planting a tree as a commemoration.