Farmers Review Africa Nov/Dec 2016 volume 2 Issue no. 6 | Page 6

News YARA Zambia Officially Launched Organi, Pas Reform partner to revitalise Tanzanian poultry Norwegian rm, Yara International has been officially launched in Zambia, taking over the operations of Greenbelt Fertilizers Limited at a cost of about $51 million. Whereas the transaction was rst announced in December 2015, it was subject to approval by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Leading Tanzanian poultry and agriculture specialist Organia will be Greenbelt Fertilizers is a leading fertilizer distributor for Zambia, Malawi and Zambia. partnering with Pas Reform for an economic regeneration project that Yara International says it has been motivated to acquire Greebelt will redevelop Kibaha, a once important regional production centre, into Fertilizers Limited due to the investment-friendly policies introduced by the country's leading supplier of day-old chicks e Kibaha Education Centre, west of Dar es Salaam, was founded as the Zambian government which are conducive to business, thus part of an international aid project in 1963 and was formerly the site of attracting long-term investment into the country. Tanzania's leading poultry operation. Kibaha was a major local employer, Yara business unit downstream Africa chief executive officer, Bernhard Fonsenka, said by acquiring Greenbelt Fertilizers, Yara will be able to supplying chicks to local families, farmers and businesses and producing provide sustainable crop nutrition, increase crop yields and farmers' 1.5mn day-old chicks per year. e centre was forced to close ve years ago following a serious poultry incomes. epidemic, leading to a great deal of local hardship. ''We invested in Zambia because we were motivated by the investment- e new project aims to develop Kibaha in phases over the next ve friendly attitude that we have witnessed through the process of this acquisition. We observed that investment authorities, regulators and years, to have a 16 per cent share of Tanzania's poultry market with the partners, all have the determination to attract long-term commitment by production of 16mn chicks per year by 2021. easing the cost of doing business,'' he said at the launch of Yara Zambia First phase investment has included a complete overhaul of the existing on May 4, 2016. operation, with new breeder and broiler sites, a feed mill, processing and a new hatchery, designed by Pas Reform. ''While Yara boasts of its ability to deliver the world's best agronomic e hatchery is equipped with state of the art SmartPro setters and practices and resources to local farmers, it will continue to ensure that the farmer remains at the heart of everything we do with the aim of hatchers, with full HVAC control (climate control) to ensure that an sustainably increasing their pro tability, thereby improving their optimal hatchery environment is maintained throughout the year. livelihood,'' he added. Demonstrating a relatively high level of automation by African standards, the hatchery has been designed with future expansion in Speaking earlier, Agriculture deputy minister, Maxus Ngónga said the mind. With a rst phase setting capacity of 153,000 eggs per week, phase coming in of Yara in the agriculture sector will bring competition in the marketing of fertilizer. 2 will be 230,000 per week and there is the possibility of doubling that ''is investment has come at a time when Zambia is diversifying its capacity in the future. According to the company, the launch phase has already created more economy and our commitment is not only to make Zambia the food than 100 local jobs - a number expected to increase to over 500 by 2021. basket of the region, but also attract investments that will help us achieve In addition, the hatchery is expected to help re-ignite opportunities for that dream. small-scale poultry keeping in the region. ''As a nation, we are delighted to have a new entrant in the fertilizer Organia's chairman Amr Taher said his company has long-standing sector because this creates competition and helps to push the prices of experience in the poultry industry and will work hard to ensure that the the product down for the bene t of the farmer,'' he elaborated. Kibaha project achieves its goal of regenerating the country's poultry Norwegian ambassador to Zambia, Arve Ofstad is optimistic that Yara, as a commercial producer of fertilizer, will add value to the Zambian industry. “In a year's time, Organia will be producing 10.5mn chickens a economy through job creation and better yields for farmers. year and we will double this output annually until 2021.” November - December 2016 [6] FARMERS REVIEW AFRICA www.farmersreviewafrica.com