Lusaka 11th May 2020 – As part of the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) aftercare programme to existing investors, the Agency is visiting the private sector in the food industry to appreciate the challenges and opportunities the investors are facing in the industry.
The Agency’s visitation is in a bit to ascertain the country’s food production capacity as Zambia is moving towards self-sustainability in food substances following the restrictions in the importation of certain food stuffs in the wake of Covid – 19.
ZDA Acting Director General Matongo Matamwandi on 7th May led a team of experts from the Agency to Ross Breeders Zambia farm in Chainda, the Feed production plant and the Supreme Chickens abattoir in Mimosa area in order to have an appreciation of the industry.
Mr. Matamwandi reveals that the Agency picked Ross Breeders because of their out grower scheme and the opportunities that the poultry sector offers as one of the low hanging fruits in trying to find quick solutions to food self-sufficiency for Zambia.
The Acting Director General says the challenges the poultry sector and Ross Breeders in particular are facing are related to policy, operations as well as the information gap between industry and policy makers.
“It was eye opening to learn of some of the challenges the sector is facing and as an Agency we shall start to engage with the relevant authorities in order to address the challenges,” revealed Mr. Matamwandi.
“In addition, as the Agency will be making recommendations to government on the post Covid – 19 recovery, it will be based on practical experience and information from the industry,” added Mr. Matamwandi.
The Acting Director General notes that the Agency is more convinced that the Investor Symposium which it held last year for the first time is an important platform which helps deal with challenges that the private sector are facing as it bring both government and industry under one roof.
He encourages all business associations across sectors to be part of this year’s Investor Symposium.
Mr. Matamwandi reiterated that the Agency is looking at making the Investor Symposium an annual event so as to continue bridging the information gap between government and the private sector.
Meanwhile Mr. Matamwandi commends Ross Breeders Zambia for their over USD37 million investment in the economy and over 1200 jobs they have created for the people of Zambia.
He says the company is also contributing to the foreign exchange earnings as they export to over 10 countries in Southern and Central Africa.
Mr. Matamwandi further reiterates that the company is also providing a ready market for small scale farmers for both maize and soya beans of all quantities and the out grower scheme that it is running.
And Ross Breeders Managing Director Colin Lindsay, expressed gratitude for the commitment that the Zambia Development Agency showed towards supporting the growth of the poultry industry in the country.
Mr. Lindsay notes that his group of companies will continue to work with government and small scale poultry farmers create the much needed jobs for the people of Zambia.
