The farmers, who literally control South Africa’s agricultural economy, will meet Agriculture Minister, Mr. Given Lubinda and other senior Government officials on Wednesday afternoon, while the schedule for a meeting with President Edgar Lungu is yet to be finalised.
The farmers, who each have an annual turnover in excess of USD $6.5 million per year and have been organised under the auspices of Agri All Africa (AaA), are focusing to invest in areas of fresh produce which include sugar cane, wheat, maize, soya beans; livestock products ranging from cattle to sheep to goats and chickens.
The AaA client-farmers have identified, among other countries; Zambia, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Namibia and Sudan as their immediate investment destinations.
Zambia has been pegged as number one priority because of its proximity to South Africa which made it easier for the farmers to drive their equipment into the country. Zambia has also been favoured because of her “friendliness in attracting foreign direct investment through the current policies”.
The decision to travel to Zambia was made last month at a meeting organised by AaA held in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The meeting was convened to discuss acceleration of strengthening of management platforms to ensure the successful implementation of agriculture investments in prioritised destinations in Africa. The meeting also discussed current opportunities with the aim of aligning them to making a difference in agricultural development.
The participants who included client-farmers, AaA functionaries and board members, diplomatic representation, project managers and representatives from the agribusiness value chain looked at agricultural investment opportunities and how risk could be minimised in order to create assurance for the Africa option.
It was resolved that cooperation among the key elements and actors was essential to reach properly managed and implementable projects that would change the lives of people on the ground as well as allow commercial viability for all stakeholders.
The farmers are keen to move their investment into Zambia as soon as suitable land was secured.
AaA, which was born out of South Africa’s commercial agricultural sector aims to support the development of commercial agriculture in Africa, which it has identified as a key driver of the continent’s economic development.
Good news, but sensibly the regions where land ia in abundance rainfall is dependable is Region III, ie N/western, C/belt, Luapula and Northern provinces. With improved transportation infrastructures there is no excuse to confine these investments to the same areas.
THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS FOR ZAMBIA. OUR LEADERS SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO ALLOW THESE INVESTORS START THEIR INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES IN OUR COUNTRY. THESE VERY SOUTH AFRICAN TOP FARMERS ARE THE VERY TOP BUSINESS OWNERS IN SOUTH AFRICA. THEY OWN CHAIN STORES LIKE PICK AND PAY, SHOP-RITE AND OTHERS. THESE SAME GUYS WILL ATTRACT INVESTMENT IN MANUFACTURING OF TRACTORS LIKE MERCIFERGUSEN IN ZAMBIA. THIS IS THE REAL INVESTMENT WHICH WE NEED AS A COUNTRY, AND ZAMBIA WILL IN NO TIME BECOME AN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY. WE WELCOME YOU GUYS.
But yourselves have failed to plough your own land…happy to waste funds on ridiculously overpriced roads as its easy money you dont want to sweat…shamefully pointing to Boers where to dig in your own backyard and glad to work as a farm hand!!
1.2 Jay
Now that is the Jay Jay I know…well spoken!
So Jay jay if we didn’t do those roads you would have transported all the farm produce worthy millions of dollars through gravel roads on your head since most transporters would refuse to send their expensive trucks where their are no roads? Stop hallucinating!
Here we go again!! PamaFi making sure our country is RE-COLONISED!!! First by the British, now by SOUTH AFRICAN RICH FARMERS(ba bunu) – do we really think they will be here to develop Zed or REAP FROM ZED??? They will employ poor Zedians & EXPLOIT THEM ON THEIR FARMS FOR EXPORT ABROAD!! THEY WILL CONTROL THE PRICES IN ALL SOUTH AFRICAN FOOD STORES IN ZAMBIA – NOT EVEN THE ZAMBIAN GOVT WILL BE ABLE TO INTERVENE IN PRICE CONTROLS!!!
ZAMBIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE & FEED ITSELF WHEN BA BUNU WERE RULING RSA!! IF CHAGWA & HIS FELLOW THIEVES HAD MADE GOOD USE OF THE USD 10 BILLION OR SO THAT WE ARE NOW INDEBTED – BA BUNU wouldn’t be flocking to Zed NOW!! WHAT STOPPED THEM FROM COMING ALL THESE YEARS??? NOW with the PERSONA NON GRATA Zambian High Commissioner in RSA – well known for…
…….. NOW with the PERSONA NON GRATA Zambian High Commissioner in RSA – well known for his crookedness, is trying to make HEADLINES FOR CHAGWA & PamaFI, but NOT ONLY THAT – THEY ARE AUCTIONING OUR FERTILE COUNTRY TO BA BUNU FOR NO GAIN TO ZAMBIANS – THEY WILL TAKE ALL OUR LAND!!
Chagwas pretence at the recently ended International farmers meet in Livingstone, WAS TO STICK A KNIFE IN THE BACK OF ZAMBIAN FARMERS by FLOODING US WITH FARMERS FROM RSA WHO WILL BE GIVEN LAND FOR FREE BY PamaFI in preference to ZAMBIAN FARMERS!!
Vote Wisely 11/8/2016!! Vote ZAMBIA FORWARD!! VOTE UPND!! ABANTU BAYA!!
#CHAGWAMUSTFALL!! PAMAFIKUYABEBELE!!
I thank you!!
WHAT ZAMBIA NEEDS, is GOOD GOVERNANCE, NOTTTTTT RE-COLONIZATION!!
Alot of Lazy zedians think being re-colonised is the best thing – EXCEPT NOT – lot of zambians have made it in the Diaspora because they are HARD WORKERS, like we all are – what has got us where we are, ARE THE THIEVES WE HAVE PUT IN POWER – WHEN YOU HAVE THIEVES LIKE LAZY BUM CHAGWA – STEALING IS ALWAYS VERY EASY – YOU CAN THEN PUT YOUR LAZY BUM TO DRINK THE REST OF YOUR LIFE LIKE HE DOES – But NOT FOR LONG – Chimbokaela is waiting for him!!!
VOTE WISELY 11/8/2016!! Vote ZAMBIA FORWARD!! Vote UPND!! Abantu baya!!
#chagwamustfall!! PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
Zambian FARMERS, it is TIME YOUR SHOWED YOURMIDDLE-FINGER UP to Chagwa & His PamaFI, better still STICK PITCH FORKS UP HIS LAZY BUM!!! He is really SC..RE..WING THIS COUNTRY AROUND – after making sure you FARMERS ARE DISADVANTAGED, he is NOW AUCTIONING OUR LAND!!! He really believes Zambain farmers are “Bags of maize”, who can do nothing to him & pamafi!!
WELL IT IS TIME TO SHOW THEM THE DOOR – VOTE WISELY & MASSIVELY 11/8/2016!!
Vote Zambia FORWARD!! VOTE UPND!! Abantu baya!!
#Chagwamustfall!! pamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
This not good. Why not empower our people to be heading our agricultural economy?? This money will not be staying in Zambia and there is no benefit other these chaps coming to abuse our people. Can Lubinda and these dumb chaps understand that only Zambians will develop Zambia. Taxes are not the way of growing an economy. We need that profit to be made by Zambians and used in Zambia not taken to south africa. Zambia has become a resource funnel for South Africa now.
@Wise Commentator. What empowerment! There is something wrong with the black race and I am black. When KK nationalized the mines they were flourishing but were ran down by Zambians when they took over ati copper is finished. Zimbabweans took over the farms from the whites and Zimbabwe became an importer of food from being the bread basket in the region. Even the South Africans that want to come here are WHITE South Africans. Despite being late entrants in America the Asians are doing much better than the blacks. “Why oh Lord” cried Brook Benton when talking about the colour of his skin which is said to be an awful sin.
Zambians have had 53 yrs to develop the country and failed badly, these farmers while not big in world standards as 6 or 7 million $ turn over is very little on world standards will create jobs in a country that has high unemployment.
If they had to cime when under 5 hh is president, this would have been good news
Iwe masushi think above your anus and nose.
This is why hh will never rule this country
My suggestion to the government is that special funding must be set aside to assist Zambians already in agriculture and those wanting to step in. This fund must be in a form of a loan to the participants to cover training in crop growing, harvesting, and processing. Upon completion of training, participants must be allotted farm land, needed agriculture equipment, and be assigned a field officer from NRDC (Natural Resources Development College). This is how we can go about creating jobs for people and empowering ourselves. Reliance on foreign investments for things we can ably do must stop. One Zambia One Nation.
These South African are not good people. Even here in North America I caught one playing around with labour laws for his own benefit. There should be stipulation for investment because these people end up bring there own people to work in Zambia and if they employ Zambia. The Zambians are paid poorly. We have to start been careful with these investments. They should always benefit Zambians more than foreigners. Below are some of the ground rules: they must partner with a Zambian and employ more 70% of Zambians, there should be limitation on how much money can leave Zambia after its generated etc. We are really been taken over by foreigners because we have failed to managed ourselves by empowering our people. How did these farmers get where they are??and why can’t Zambians be even more…
So its ok for the Chinese to own Zambia and exploit it as they are doing.
If they had to come when under 5 hh is president, this would have been good news
Iwe masushi think above your anus and nose.
This is why hh will never rule this country
Bad news. Actually sad new s.Spend some time in SA and you will realise this is very myopic of the Zambian government. Please don’t make Malema look a genius.
If they had to come when under 5 hh is president, this would have been good news
Iwe masushi think above your anus and nose.
This is why hh will never rule this country
They hate blacks and will never change.
As usual zambians are only good at talking without any action.this is good news.from 1964, all you Guys do is condemn everything without offering solutions.some of you think that development can only come by government empowering you with everything.it doesn’t work like that.each and every zambian has to wake up and not wait to government to even buy a toothpick for them.
THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS FOR ZAMBIA. OUR LEADERS SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO ALLOW THESE INVESTORS START THEIR INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES IN OUR COUNTRY. THESE VERY SOUTH AFRICAN TOP FARMERS ARE THE VERY TOP BUSINESS OWNERS IN SOUTH AFRICA. THEY OWN CHAIN STORES LIKE PICK AND PAY, SHOP-RITE AND OTHERS. THESE SAME GUYS WILL ATTRACT INVESTMENT IN MANUFACTURING OF TRACTORS LIKE MERCIFERGUSEN IN ZAMBIA. THIS IS THE REAL INVESTMENT WHICH WE NEED AS A COUNTRY, AND ZAMBIA WILL IN NO TIME BECOME AN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY. WE WELCOME YOU GUYS.
@ dis i agree with your comment 100%
But why should mere famers be meeting govt…dont we have relevant instutions to handle such issues…this why we have instutions that are toothless.
infesters. why not just empower Zambians. so these chaps will get huge tracks of land and enslave Zambians and you get excited at good news.
This is the lazy and docile mentally of our people happy to import everything from foreigners even black shoe polish in Shoprite is imported from Kenya…this is something we used to make as kids with parafin, candle wax and charcoal.
They will even meet the President and be welcomed with a red carpet like the way the welcomed that Indian mining CEO who was bragging to his people.
If they had to come when under 5 hh is president, this would have been good news
Iwe masushi think above your anus and nose.
This is why hh will never rule this country
If you want to give to foreigners please then let our land remain idle.
We already the problem they are fearing South Africa
Is it not amazing how government manages all these positive stories during elections? This is just a meeting to show that they are working. Come next election this meeting will have yielded nothing – ZERO and they will have another one to follow up on this one. Do not be fooled. Yesterday it was solar energy, commissioning of this and that, etc Vote wisely!
Good News? Atase! Ukulima bushe kwalishupa? Cant you teach you citizens how to farm so that you empower them? Celebrating recolonisation
Investment is needed in the country. As long as individuals from outside respect the values and institutions of Zambia, not the othere way round. It’s a win win situation in so far as having food security and creating job opportunities. And lets remember we cant all be managers.
Empowerment comes from learning. And If people can learn and take something from the presence of these farmers, it benefits everyone. Every cloud has a silver lining.
FROM THE COMMENTS SO FAR,ZAMBIANS ARE AGAINST THIS MODERN “GREAT TREK”PLEASE WE CAN FARM OUR LAND.ALL WE NEED IS A GOVERNMENT WITH A VISION TO EMPOWER US.AS @Kashimukoti HAS RIGHTLY OBSERVED,UKULIMA TAKASHUPA,WITH ALL THE MACHINERY & KNOWLEDGE.WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL,WE CAN EVEN EMPLOY THESE BOERS AS OUR FARM MANAGERS,ALA.WE ARE TIRED OF LEADERS WHO ARE VISION-LESS.
Bunda bwakulandalanda fye nangu tutile ukulembalemba fye pa LT! If we give 1/2 an acre to most of the bloggers here to cultivate anything they want, most of them won’t even know where to start from and if I gave 100 chicks + 10 bags starter feed to each of these bloggers coming out negatively about foreign investors in agriculture and ask them to feed them up to 1 week, I most likely will have no chicks at the end of the week. This is because they lack experience.
There is need to have investors with experience in large scale farming so that we start having experience among people trained in agriculture and agriculture scientific support.
This is very welome information!
THE SAME MISTAKE WE HAVE MADE CONCERNING ROADS.(LINK ZAMBIA-8000,2000,PAVE ZAMBIA FIMOFIMO; WHAT EVER THEY ARE CALLING IT) EMPOWER ZAMBIANS TO HAVE ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES,GIVE THEM THE TENDERS,EMPLOY ZAMBIAN ENGINEERS,THEY BUY MACHINERY FROM CHINA,ADVERTISE IN CHINA FOR ROAD ENGINEERS WITH EXPERIENCE IN AFRICA,EMPLOY THEM & PUT THEM ON SALARY,TRANSFER SKILLS & TOMORROW WE WILL BE TENDERING JOBS IN CONGO,ANGOLA ETC.OUR LEADERS DO NOT SEE THIS,WHY?PLUNDER,CORRUPTION & VISIONLESS.
I HAVE ALSO ANALYZED THAT FREE EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA.,FROM GRADE ONE TO UNIVERSITY.THE ONES SAYING IT IS IMPOSSIBLE ARE THIEVES WHO WANT TO STEAL FROM THE POOR.15 MILLION POPULATION ,WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE?WE NEED WISDOM FROM GOD SURELY,ELSE WE WILL PERISH FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING.
this good news zambia is 60% arable land and has 40% of southern africas underground water
the that were only using 10% is a joke imagine if we even just use 50% of our family land
agriculture means low skilled jobs also provides real materials for industries ,farmers can send children to schools and hospitals
country is self-suitable
exports increase and we drop inflation
for people who think Zambia can farm for themselves please tell if youve seen major development since independence without foreign expertise and investment
Why am I not being allowed to vote? Are you restricting these votes only to those who support the boers?
Investors are welcome but we need a mix of both local and foreign investors. But what is Government doing for its people? What is government doing to raise even a thousand farmers to commercial level in the the next 10 years? We are already being fed on maize mainly produced by peasant farmers which shows that with knowledge ,equipment,adequate financing and good extension services we can do it!! So these “investors” coming to enjoy priviledges which we have denied our own people are not so much what we need but good empowerment programmes for our citizens wishing to go into agriculture and indeed other industries!!
Ba Lsk Times have you seen the level of insults from this person that has stolen and is using the user name of “Katondo boy”s that I strongly suspect is the same chap that normally uses the name of “wise commentator”.
Is it not unfair for you guys to allow such insults and then block some of us when we only answer fire with fire. Come on ba Lusaka Times please be fair.
Your faithfull blogger since 2010.
(Captain)2020vision
These farmers should be settled in Muchinga, Luapula and North Western provinces to open up these areas to agriculture. Do not take them to central, southern, Lusaka or eastern provinces. They are enough indigenous farmers in those areas already. Zambia has enough land to receive new entrants to farming. These farmers should be warned though not to build bantustans.