Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
Cashel Valley Sawmill Plant, commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2022, has doubled production capacity with efforts also directed towards improving the timber recovery rate, while afforestation programmes have been scaled up.
The US$13.3 million plant has doubled its production capacity from 10 000 to 20 000 cubic metres per year.
The state-owned company’s management is also working on improving the timber recovery rate as well as increasing afforestation programmes.
Cashel Valley Estates manager, Mr Clemence Bvunza said, “This plant was commissioned in 2022 and has the capacity to produce 20 000 cubic metres per year. Before this plant was commissioned, we were operating around 10 000 cubic metres. So, the coming in of this plant has increased our production.
“We are working on a replanting project and we are targeting to plant 500 hectares here in Cashel every year for the next five years. We are harvesting 100 hectares per annum meaning we are planting more than what we are harvesting so that we close the gap that is there.”
“The sawmill has a capacity to process 3 600 input and an output of 1 800 per month. This is 50 percent recovery. We are also putting in place additional machinery to improve recovery rate as we are currently drying 1.6. If we maximise the line, the recovery rate will go up,” added Cashel Valley Sawmill manager, Mr Moses Mandevhani.
Government is happy with the increased productivity by Allied Timbers and other players in the timber industry as timber export receipts are on the increase.
“Allied Timbers is the biggest timber producer in the country and we are happy to see increased productivity. The economy of the country is on a rebound. We are happy that there is a lot of value addition taking place. The timber producers are able to satisfy the local market and export,” said Manicaland Minister of State for provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza.
Meanwhile, the revival of Cashel Valley Irrigation is expected to improve economic activities in Cashel Valley and Chimanimani district.
