Zambian government officials in India

 

February 2017

 

Phyla Zambia was delighted for the opportunity to demonstrate the pongamia value chain in Karnataka, India to Zambian government officials. To secure permits to import elite pongamia pinnata from India to Zambia, Phyla Zambia followed a rigorous plant quarantine and phytosanitary checks. Representatives from the Forestry Department and Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services (PQPS) from the Government of Zambia were able to inspect the sapling nursery and pongamia tree plantations in India and also observe post-harvesting processing and end-use.

 

Seed processing involves pressing dried de-hulled pongamia seeds.  Pressing produces a clear pure oil, which can be used in simple generators and smelters or further processed into biodiesel for blended use in modern cars, trucks or machinery. This can be put directly into a generator to provide low cost off-grid power.

 

This will open the door for further collaboration in ecosystem services between Zambia and India.