An Agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, says the projected increase in fertiliser production at the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) will help stabilize the prices of the commodity on the market.
The Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) is set to ramp up fertiliser production from the 70,000 to 432,000 metric tonnes annually following an investment of US$6.8 million towards the fertiliser blending and granulating plant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the Zambia Emergency Food Production Facility (ZAEFPF).
In an interview with the media in Lusaka today, Dr Bulaya said the move will also help farmers to increase crop production.
He said this will especially increase small scale farmers who are facing low levels of production due to high prices of fertiliser.
He stated that it is important for the country to invest in fertiliser and seed production, saying Zambia is now one of the biggest suppliers of fertiliser in the region.
Meanwhile, National Association for Smallholder Farmers (NASFA) Executive Director, Frank Kayula, says the expected increase in production will also help the country’s economy as there will be more fertiliser export.
Dr Kayula noted that increased fertiliser export will subsequently lead to the improvement in the exchange rates thereby making other imported materials cheaper to acquire.
He however stated that the government needs to intervene through the Consumer Protection Unit in order to help set more favourable prices for seeds on the market.
