Zambia has the ability to feed itself, says Joint CEO

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – Buy local and support your local farmers – that’s the message to shoppers from Zambeef Products Joint Chief Executive Francis Grogan.

Zambia’s agriculture sector has the capacity to feed the nation, so there is no need to rely on imported food, said the joint head of the country’s most successful agribusiness company.

“There is no point in us importing certain goods when we may very well grow, produce and process our own. Zambia has the potential to feed itself as well as the rest of southern Africa with irrigation and proper agricultural practices,” said Mr Grogan, who added that by buying home-grown produce consumers would be supporting the farming community, including thousands of small-scale entrepreneurs who supply cattle, pigs, chickens and milk to Zambeef.

He was on hand to welcome a group of US based educators who toured Zambeef’s Huntley Farm operations in Chisamba today (May 27).

With Zambia turning its focus to agriculture and agribusiness, it is evident that there is more untapped potential in the sector with 80 percent of Zambia’s land being arable, vast natural resources of fertile soils, excellent growing climate, and abundant fresh water resources.

Zambeef has been a significant contributor to enhancing food security in the country with operations in the beef, cropping, poultry and feed markets. The company is a successful example of the potential the agriculture sector has and how far local investment can go with the right expertise and commitment.

Since embarking on its 100 percent local procurement policy, Zambeef now sources 40 per cent of its milk from Zambian farmers and produces the remaining 60 percent at its Kalundu dairy farm also in Chisamba. All Zambeef’s beef and pork is sourced from local farmers, mainly from Southern, Central and Copperbelt provinces.

SADC’s aim is to feed itself and Zambia has the potential to feed the whole of that SADC region with the proper investment, skills and determination, said Mr Grogan.

The visiting American group was impressed with Zambeef’s integrated business model, stating that it was refreshing to see big companies such as Zambeef working together with medium and small scale farmers for mutual benefit.

However, Mr Grogan noted that agriculture was not for the faint-hearted, and he encouraged those venturing in the sector to never give up when faced with challenges.

“Challenges are there every day but there are challenges in every business in every country all over the world. It is up to management to find solutions and move forward and not look back,” he said.

The group tour began their tour with a visit to the dairy farm, on to the feedlot, through the wheat pivot and finally to the milk plant where the visitors were treated to a cheese tasting.

The group also has large row cropping operations (principally maize, soya beans and wheat), with approximately 8,350 hectares of row crops under irrigation and 17,000 hectares of rain-fed/dry-land crops available for planting each year.

Slaughters more than 80,000 beef cattle and 6 million chickens, and processes 8 million litres of milk per year.

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About Zambeef Products Plc
Zambeef Products Plc is the largest integrated agribusinesses in Zambia.
The group is principally involved in the production, processing, distribution and retailing of beef, chicken, pork, milk, dairy products, eggs, stock feed and flour. The group also has large row cropping operations (principally maize, soya beans and wheat), with approximately 8,350 hectares of row crops under irrigation and 17,000 hectares of rain-fed/dry-land crops available for planting each year. The group is also in the process of rolling out its West Africa expansion in Nigeria and Ghana, as well as developing a palm project in Zambia.
It slaughters more than 80,000 beef cattle and 6 million chickens, and processes 8 million litres of milk per year. The company has 121 retail outlets throughout the country, along with four wholesale depots.
More information is available at www.zambeefplc.com.