May 11, 2021

 

Zambeef reiterates support for Zambia's livestock sector

 

 

Zambeef has doubled the price it pays to small-scale farmers in Zambia for their cattle in the last year, the agribusiness company revealed.

 

The rise was triggered by a shortage of cattle in the market due to the 2018/19 drought, increased competition and a growing demand for meat, said Zambeef's chief operations officer, Mike Lovett.

 

He was speaking during the National Cattle Field Day in Namwala hosted by the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and Namwala District Farmers Association.

 

"So now, the primary production of livestock is very profitable, with small-scale cattle farmers benefiting greatly from the price increase. This is expected to continue and will result in more small farmers rearing cattle," Lovett said.

 

He called on the livestock and wider farming community to be relentless in promoting agriculture, as the industrialisation of the sector would only be possible if farmers across the spectrum were onboard.

 

Lovett stated that consistent implementation of deliberate policies aimed at bringing about positive growth for both farmers and businesses at both national and industry level was a key part of the effort.

 

"This is the agenda we must keep pushing, and this is the momentum we must keep building up on if we are to achieve industrialisation in the sector. In this way, everyone wins," said Lovett.

 

He pointed to the success of such an approach as seen in the impact that Zambeef has had on the social economic landscape of Zambia. He noted that 80% of Zambeef's cattle are sourced from small-scale farmers, providing a ready market for them, particularly in Namwala where Zambeef has been actively supporting the farmers since 2004.

 

"In our quest for growth, I am proud to say that we have not left our local farmers behind, as evidenced by the families whose lives have changed through supplying to Zambeef," said Lovett.

 

He explained that as a result, Zambeef has been able to consistently tap into this resource as more farmers progressed from being small-scale producers to become commercial farmers.

 

Zambeef has also set up live-cattle buying centers across Zambia, allowing farmers supplying one animal to have easy access to the market and to sell at a more reasonable price than through a middleman, and endeavours to pay farmers on the very day they supply.

 

Additionally, Zambeef provides transport for deliveries to the centers to help reduce costs of doing business for the farmers. In the event where this is not possible, the company refunds them all transport costs incurred in delivering the animals.

 

"As Zambeef and, indeed, the farming community, we are prepared to put in the hard work – and is in fact used to it – required to achieve the shared vision of becoming an agriculture hub in Southern Africa and surrounding regions. Not only are we rightly positioned but also are endowed with the necessary resources to do so," said Lovett.

 

- Zambeef

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