- The Chipata Industrial Yard, Kagunda Turn off, Eastern province.
Dried sheet potatoes prepared to international standards for supermarkets and retail chains nationwide. Advanced washing, precision slicing and carefully controlled drying preserve nutrients and natural flavors. ZABS certified processing delivers consistent quality meeting European and North American export requirements.
Denise Cousineu Cooperative Society specializes in transforming fresh sweet potatoes into premium dried sheet products that retain nutritional value, natural sweetness, and appealing orange color. Our member farmers cultivate orange-fleshed sweet potato varieties rich in beta-carotene, addressing Vitamin A deficiencies prevalent in Zambian communities. Processing occurs at our Chipata Industrial Yard facility using food-grade stainless steel equipment and purified water systems meeting stringent international food safety protocols. Solar-electric drying technology maintains optimal temperatures preserving both nutritional content and the natural sugars that make our products popular with health-conscious consumers seeking nutritious snack alternatives.
Our dried sheet potatoes serve multiple market segments including retail consumer snacks, institutional food service ingredients, and export markets valuing authentic African sweet potato products. Uniform slicing ensures consistent rehydration characteristics for cooking applications while maintaining structural integrity for direct consumption as healthy chips. Member farmers benefit from value-added processing that transforms perishable fresh sweet potatoes into shelf-stable products commanding premium prices. Collective bargaining power secures better packaging materials pricing and direct access to supermarket buyers, maximizing returns for individual farmers participating democratically in cooperative governance.
Member farmers deliver freshly harvested orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to our processing facility where quality inspectors assess size uniformity, absence of disease or pest damage, and optimal maturity indicators. Only premium grade sweet potatoes with vibrant color and firm texture enter our processing line ensuring consistent final product quality.
Industrial washers remove field soil using purified water before mechanical peelers prepare sweet potatoes for slicing. Calibrated slicers cut uniform thickness sheets ensuring even drying rates throughout batches. Solar-electric drying chambers gradually reduce moisture content while preserving natural sweetness, color vibrancy, and nutritional integrity through scientifically monitored temperature humidity profiles.
Located at Chipata Industrial Yard serving eighty member farmers with certified processing facilities and transparent financial services. Smart invoicing compliance and independent annual audits ensure accountability to every member farmer.
Common questions about membership, products, financial services and cooperative operations answered clearly. Democratic governance ensures transparency and member participation in all cooperative decisions.
Membership is open to all interested women in Chipata and surrounding areas since our 2024 by-law amendments. Contact Board Chairperson Alice Mkandawire at 0977608364 or General Manager Dorothy Chizenga at 0975839373. Complete registration forms and begin monthly contributions to access savings programs, loan products, processing facilities and democratic voting rights immediately.
We process premium dried vegetables including pumpkin leaves, zumba, mutambe, tindingoma and kasongo using solar and electric technology. Our product range includes dried sheet sweet potatoes, sun-dried mangoes and comprehensive groundnut varieties: pounded, raw, fried, freshly cooked, dried and roasted. All products meet ZABS certification standards for supermarkets, chain stores and international markets including Europe and North America.
Various loan products with favorable interest rates support member development and emergency financial needs throughout the year. Loan amounts and terms vary based on savings history, share ownership and specific member circumstances. Monthly contributions build eligibility while dividends on shares provide additional returns. Contact our financial services team to discuss which loan product best matches your current needs and repayment capacity.
Democratic governance ensures every member voice matters through our General Assembly of eighty women meeting annually. Members elect the ten-person Board of Directors who oversee professional management and strategic direction. Committees including Finance, Sales, Procurement, Marketing and Community Supervision provide specialized oversight. Independent auditors ensure financial transparency annually. All major decisions require member approval following cooperative principles of member control and economic participation.
We hold ZABS certification ensuring national food safety compliance, ZPPA registration for procurement activities, Workman's Compensation coverage protecting our team, and Smart Invoicing registration with ZRA for tax transparency. Our processing facilities follow stringent quality control measures including grading, pooling and testing for product consistency. Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises supervision under the Cooperative Act of 1998 ensures legal compliance and member protection throughout operations.
