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Twenty four South Africa’s leading farmers will arrive in Zambia on Tuesday
Twenty four South Africa’s leading farmers will arrive in Zambia on Tuesday to open discussions with Government on how they can move their investment into the country’s agricultural sector.
The farmers, who literally control South Africa’s agricultural economy, will meet Agriculture Minister, Given Lubinda and other senior Government officials on Wednesday afternoon, while the schedule for a meeting with President Edgar Lungu is yet to be finalized.
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.
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 prioritized destinations in Africa. The meeting also discussed current opportunities with the aim of aligning them to making a difference in agricultural development.
The farmers are keen to move their investment into Zambia as soon as suitable land was secured.
This is contained in a statement made available to QFM News by Zambia High Commission to South Africa First Press Secretary Nicky Shabolyo.