Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Big increase at Agritech Expo Zambia shows global excitement about Zambian farming sector

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President Edgar Chagwa Lungu gets on the Tractor in Chisamba during the Agritech Expo Zambia 2015 on Saturday, April 18, 2015. PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE ©2015.
FILE: President Edgar Chagwa Lungu gets on the Tractor in Chisamba during the Agritech Expo Zambia 2015 on Saturday, April 18, 2015. PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE ©2015.

The upcoming Agritech Expo Zambia in Chisamba from 27-29 April will feature a record number of six international pavilions from strong farming countries Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, France, the Czech Republic and Zimbabwe, each showcasing their own specialised products and services to the agri community.

“For four years now the German Agricultural Society has been involved in Agritech Expo Zambia” says Martin Botzian, Head of Communication at DLG International GmbH. He adds “since 2016 the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture has organised a German Pavilion and DLG supports this strategic investment, bringing German companies to the No 1 open air expo in Zambia. We see this fair constantly growing from year to year, attracting more and more exhibitors as well as professional visitors and small scale farmers from all over Zambia. It continues to be the gathering place for the agricultural business sector and delivers a very professional platform to meet all the different types of needs. Well done to all of you -we know how hard you have had to work to deliver this!”

New at Agritech Expo Zambia this year are official country pavilions from the UK, the Netherlands, France and the Czech Republic.

“The Zambian market is exciting because it is diverse, booming and very professional” says Aude Roelly, Sub-Saharan Africa Area Manager at ADEPTA, an organisation of 240 French companies specialised in agriculture and agri-food processing, and convenors of the French pavilion at Agritech Expo.

She continues: “we know that agriculture is and will be key in the diversification of the Zambian economy. The vision that is being presented by the Zambian authorities for the development of the sector relies on the private sector (investment, innovation) and the improvement of productivity. Those are very good signs for equipment and machinery providers. The shift in subsidiary, from consumption to production, is also a very good sign that Zambian companies will focus on innovation and value adding and therefore may look into French technologies and know-how.”

The Holland Pavilion at Agritech Expo is hosting 18 Dutch companies, mainly active in the poultry and dairy sectors, accompanied by several Dutch knowledge institutions that are leaders in their field of expertise in agriculture.

According to Joost van Dam, director NEC (Netherlands Export Combination) and organisers of the Holland Pavilion “Zambia will need to acquire resources such as capital, expertise and equipment in order to realise its full potential. Dutch companies can provide some of the required inputs owing to the strong position of the Netherlands in global dairy and poultry value chains.”

He says the Netherlands has had long standing involvement in Zambian agriculture. “For example, it previously supported agriculture training colleges (e.g. dairy and horticulture). Through various business support instruments, the Netherlands is currently supporting an irrigation scheme that primarily benefits small scale outgrowers.”

It is also possible for Dutch farmers to share many useful skills with their Zambian counterparts. He explains: “these range from production or technical knowledge for selected crops. Other valuable skills relate to managerial expertise that enables farmers to operate as businesses. For market entry into the Netherlands and Europe, a key requirement is certification. Local exporters must comply with public and private standards that govern imports. Association with the Dutch farm sector can facilitate transfer of such knowledge.”

The United Kingdom’s Department of International Trade has acknowledged the immense trade and investment potential that exists in Zambia’s agricultural sector, says Jelena Duza, Trade and Investment Adviser, Southern Africa, Agri-tech & Healthcare at the Department for International Trade. She adds: “this year, we have chosen Agritech Expo as an important platform to allow UK companies to access this potential and make an important contribution to the industry in Zambia. The UK Pavilion will be showcasing the best of British agricultural technologies. Visitors can expect to meet with exhibitors with a focus on livestock, mechanization, seed and crop protection, and agro-processing.”

14 COMMENTS

  1. Good afternoon morning and evening to all Zambians around the world. I would like to confirm that we are relieved that we have not lost any lives from our upnd team in London following the terrorist attacks in Westminster today. We are also glad that no Zambian lives have been lost. It is sad that the pf government in conjunction with their cadre high commission in London have not issued a statement as we have many Zambian economic refugees in UK who have been forced there due to pf failures. Rip to the four that have lost their lives. Meanwhile here lungu is busy climbing tractors like a kid

    Nez
    Chief strategist of the upnd

  2. Hooray for Zambia! NOW we are roving forward into development. We should take control of this industry and not allow a replication of the Mines industry, in which we get the least from the wealth created.

  3. Patriot abroad if younread the article that is exactly what we are doing. Broadacreage farming, mechanization means very little increase in employment for zambians.
    Maybe properly incorporated co-operatives, not socialst style, working together in selected areas with specific products backed bt the government for a period of say 5 years. Whilst the major crop grows income can come
    From quick growing vegetables to support the farmers, in that period there is govt support in growing technology, marketing and business practices to give zambia a long term sustainable industry.

  4. Jonathan-The Agro suppliers and Value of Land for Farmers Is the Opportunity Now Looking at China Needs for Future Jonathan-The Agro suppliers and Value of Land for Farmers Is the Opportunity Now Looking at China Needs for Future

    China made its boldest overseas takeover move when state-owned ChemChina agreed a $43 billion bid for Swiss seeds and pesticides group Syngenta on Wednesday, aiming to improve domestic food production.

    The largest ever foreign purchase by a Chinese firm, announced by both companies, will accelerate a shake-up in global agrochemicals and marks a setback for U.S. firm Monsanto, which failed to buy Syngenta last year.

    China, the world’s largest agricultural market, is looking to secure food supply for its population. Syngenta’s portfolio of top-tier chemicals and patent-protected seeds will represent a major upgrade of its potential output.

    “Only around 10 percent of Chinese farmland is efficient. This is more than just a company buying another. This is a government attempting to…

  5. Jonathan-The Agro suppliers and Value of Land for Farmers Is the Opportunity Now Looking at China Needs for Future Jonathan-The Agro suppliers and Value of Land for Farmers Is the Opportunity Now Looking at China Needs for Future

    address a real problem,” a source close to the deal told Reuters.

    Years of intensive farming combined with overuse of chemicals has degraded land and poisoned water supplies, leaving China vulnerable to crop shortages. The deal fits into Beijing’s plans to modernise agriculture over the next five years.

    “I was sent to the countyside at the age of 15, so I’m very familiar with what farmers need when they work the land. The Chinese have relied mainly on traditional ways of farming. We want to spread Syngenta’s integrated solution among smallholder farmers,” ChemChina Chairman Ren Jianxin told a media briefing.

    With growth slowing at home, Chinese companies are increasingly looking abroad for deals that can boost their business and help them diversify. If completed,…

  6. Jonathan-The Agro suppliers and Value of Land for Farmers Is the Opportunity Now Looking at China Needs for Future Jonathan-The Agro suppliers and Value of Land for Farmers Is the Opportunity Now Looking at China Needs for Future

    , ChemChina’s Syngenta purchase would be more than double CNOOC’s $17.7 billion buy of Canadian energy company Nexen in 2012.

    ChemChina last year bought Italian tyre maker Pirelli and last month said it would buy German industrial machinery maker KraussMaffei Group for some $1 billion.

    Shares in Syngenta rose on news of the deal, but at around 412 Swiss francs, were some way below the agreed offer price of $465 per share, equivalent to 480 francs, reflecting market concerns that the deal could yet stumble over regulatory hurdles and limited expectations of a counter-offer.

  7. Jonathan-The Agro suppliers and Value of Land for Farmers Is the Opportunity Now Looking at China Needs for Future Jonathan-The Agro suppliers and Value of Land for Farmers Is the Opportunity Now Looking at China Needs for Future

    This MEGA deal has since been sealed Now imagine such for ZAMSEED or GREEN BELT or NASANGA OR NEGANEGA FARMS or MKUSHI

    remember also the Chinese model of Investing in Africa agricultural and make value good value in Future contracts in agro produce especially for Army farming blocks Imagine feeding 1 Billion people daily on an egg or Tomotatoe

    The forecast for chine agro land and food suppliers is not so bright and people with interest in agriculture could easily make money

    Remember land is more expensive than machinery and agriculture and China has NON in large measure

  8. Why viewers still use to read news papers when in this technological
    world all is available on net?
    Real Madrid Ronaldo hemma fotbollströjor

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