Forest Africa Zambia Limited

Processing indigenous wild fruits into organic juices and baobab seed oil
e_sponsors
Government of Flanders
Sector
Biodiversity
e_city
Lusaka
e_country
Zambia

By applying a zero-waste philosophy, all the parts of the baobab fruit are used. Additionally, some seeds are reserved for reforestation. Other fruits currently being processed are the Monkey bread and the African Medlar. The income impact of wild fruit valorisation is very high because wild fruits are free to communities within proximate forest areas.

The products are directly supplied to over 200  retail shops in and around the Lusaka area, Southern, and Copperbelt Provinces. The company is creating income for rural communities that are the primary collectors of wild fruits.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
Improving rural incomes through alternative livelihood by creating a ready market for wild fruits enhances the local community’s ability to adapt to climate change and build their resilience using locally available resources such as wild fruit trees. Through Forest Africa Zambia Limited, more than 200 households became wild fruit suppliers, and the company has so far created direct employment for 18 Zambians at the factory. It has planted over 3,000 baobab trees, and by applying a zero-waste philosophy, all the parts of the baobab fruit are used, thereby contributing to afforestation and biodiversity. The fruit powder is processed into juice, the seeds are pressed into cosmetic oil, the funicles into red tea, and the shells are converted into eco-friendly charcoal briquettes. The company provides employment and income generation activities in the green economy in Zambia.
  • Creating indirect jobs at the rural community level for 200 households as wild fruit suppliers and wild fruit aggregators (2023)
  • Creating 18 permanent jobs (2023)

 

  • Contributing to afforestation and biodiversity by planting 3,000 baobab trees (2023)
  • Sharing wild fruit seed: Contributed 25kg Baobab seeds, 25kg Monkey bread seed, and 25kg African medlar seeds to the GIZ AWARE project for planting in selected catchment areas

 

  • Providing employment and income generation activities in the green economy in Zambia

 

Partners

Forest Africa Zambia Ltd specialises in processing indigenous wild fruits, producing organic and natural juices and baobab seed oil.

WWF provides technical assistance and guidance on funding opportunities.

WEAC provides business technical assistance and is the BIOFA training host in Zambia.