Maravi

Zambeef invests $18m in Chiawa Estate Farm

Zambeef invests $18m in Chiawa Estate Farm
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Friday, September 25, 2009 6:03:14 AM

ZAMBEEF Products Plc is investing US$18 million (about K83 billion) to expand the 10,000 hectares Chiawa Estate Farm that will be developed into a Zambian model for growing winter crops such as wheat and maize.

And agriculture minister Brian Chituwo has said the government will soon develop a policy framework to support and strengthen the capacity of local investors in the midst of free and open trade and attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI).

During a familiarisation tour of the Chiawa Estate Farm by Dr Chituwo and livestock and fisheries minister Bradford Machila, Zambeef Plc co-managing director Francis Grogan said the farm this year managed to irrigate about 2,000 hectares of land to cultivate winter crops.

He said by completion of the expansion project in 2011, the farm would have over 5,000 hectares of irrigated land to ensure the availability of crops such as wheat and maize that were used as inputs in many subsidiary companies owned by Zambeef Plc.

“We bought this farm in 2006 and by completion of the expansion projects in 2011, a total of US $18 million will be invested towards various projects since some farms being developed are green fields (new) so we are clearing land, putting up road, construction of the Zambezi water intake and booster pumps and installation of the 6.6 kilometre water pipe line that will take water from the Zambezi river up to the new fields,” said Grogan.

And Dr Chituwo said the concept of growing winter crops started as a joke but was now a reality and a source of jobs for many people.

“Seeing is believing about growing of winter crops and it is now reality. This kind of investment is impressive and how I wish we had just five of the ‘Zambeef models’ to help improve the Zambian economy and as government we need to support and facilitate these investments especially that there are locally owned,” said Dr Chituwo. “As much as we like FDI, local investors should be protected in the face of globalisation hence government will soon develop a framework to ensure that local industries are able to survive when we fully embrace open and free trade concepts.”

And Machila said the government would ensure that bureaucracy was reduced to encourage investments in various sectors of the economy.

“As member of parliament for the area, I am happy with the expansion projects at this farm and we shall soon reduce on the so-called ‘red tape’ so that investors continue the good works of developing the economy,” said Machila.

Labels: BRIAN CHITUWO, CHIAWA ESTATE FARMS, FRANCIS CROGAN, ZAMBEEF

posted by MrK @ 5:03 AM