Kanchibiya District Forestry Officer Samson Zimba has identified the absence of registered Cooperatives specifically dedicated to Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) as a major economic bottleneck for the district.

Mr Zimba says that commodities such as caterpillars, honey, mushrooms, and medicinal plants hold immense market value but are currently under-exploited due to a lack of formal organizational structures.

Mr Zimba noted that while the district was rich in these natural resources, communities continued  to lose potential income by selling them raw and unprocessed at roadside markets.

“These products have enormous economic potential. However, because there is no structured cooperative to handle processing and marketing, our people are missing out. Honey and caterpillars could fetch premium prices in urban supermarkets if they were properly processed and packaged right here in Kanchibiya,” Mr. Zimba said.

Meanwhile, Kanchibiya District Co-operative Union Chairperson, Robert Mushili, welcomed the initiative, stating that existing cooperatives were eager for technical guidance on diversifying into the forestry sector.