Employing a total of 26 people (21 operate machinery and five are in the human resources, quality control and warehouse sectors), this factory is equipped with seven ginning machines and seven presses, imported from China, capable of producing approximately 60 tons per month, however, initially production will be only half of the total capacity, since not all machines are working.
"In this initial phase, we will only produce 30 tons, because not all machines are working", explained the research and development director of Carrinho Agri, Edmar Martins, adding that this project will reduce the imports made by Textaf, formerly África Têxtil, which is also part of the group.
Quoted by Angop, the manager explained that the ginning machines are responsible for separating the seed from the lint, which is then placed in the press, compacted into a bale, and later sent to the factory.
Regarding the possibility of constraints during production, the director said that the only one is related to the climate, which "fluctuates a lot" in some regions, explaining: "There are times when it rains a lot one year and little the next, and this interferes with the development of the crop".
In order to prevent the risk of the factory being shut down due to a lack of raw materials, he stated that the product is stored and processed gradually.
Regarding the origin of the raw material, Edmar Martins said that it currently arrives by truck from Cacuso (Malanje), where Carrinho Agri has a contract with several farming families.
"Carrinho Agri provides all inputs to the producer, such as seeds, fertilizers and technical assistance, and the producer pays with the amount corresponding to what he received, keeping the remainder", he explained.
On the other hand, according to the manager, the company is already focused on promoting this crop and, for this reason, has carried out studies in several areas, such as Ganda and Porto Amboim, where there is land suitable for growing the product, writes Angop.
"We are increasingly spreading this crop to serve as an alternative for producers, so as not to plant only food products with which they face difficulties such as theft or animals invading the crop", he said, also considering that, with the 'white gold', the producer will have more security and will face fewer risks.
