THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has commended ZAMBEEF Plc for the critical role the agro-company plays in contributing to food security in Africa. COMESA Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) deputy coordinator Meebelo Nalishebo said Zambeef has shown a good case of private sector involvement in food security in Africa.

Dr Nalishebo said Zambeef’s integrated business system where the company is involved in crop farming, livestock keeping, value addition and retail trading throughout the entire value is impressive.

We see Zambeef as a good example of best practice for member states and private sector entities to learn from where one farm is doing cropping and producing feed for another farm.

“What is impressive is that all the agricultural products are value added within the company’s subsidiaries,” she said.

The latest CAADP publication quotes Dr Nalishebo as saying Zambeef’s integrated business is encouraging governments of member states to engage the private sector in their agricultural development agenda. She urged COMESA members to create a conducive environment for attracting private sector involvement in agriculture to contribute to economic development.

Meanwhile, Zambeef head of corporate affairs Felix Lupindula said the company makes a significant contribution to food and nutrition security in Zambia through its cropping and food processing divisions. He said Zambeef would continue playing a big role in promoting food security not only in Zambia but also in Africa. And Zambeef Chiawa Farms crop manager Rob Hoskins said the company was a major source of Lucerne, a high protein plant for livestock feed. He said Chiawa Farm also produces soya beans and maize, and is involved in fish farming on a small scale for domestic consumption. Mr Hoskins said the farm is completely dependent on irrigation as Chiawa is a relatively dry area, adding that water for irrigation is pumped from both the Zambezi and Kafue rivers.

Source: Zambia Daily Mail