ZAMBIA – Kafue Fisheries Limited is awaiting regulatory approvals to establish an abattoir and a factory at a cost of US$1.8 million.
The company that sits on 1,500 hectares of farmland has 130 ponds that produce 1,200 tonnes of fish per annum and over 10,000 pigs annually.
It is now considering adding value to its primary resources.
Situated west of Kafue district in Chanyanya area, the farm houses over 20 wildlife species, cattle, hippos and crocodiles from the nearby Kafue River which stray into the swampy grazing farmland.
Speaking after a delegation led by Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry permanent secretary Kayula Siame toured the farm on Wednesday, company managing director Clive Holden said an integrated approach to operations is being promoted to reduce wastage.
“When we started over 10 years ago, we only focused on fish and pig production but now we are involved in so many activities such as production of our own stock feed, soya cake and refined soya cooking oil, and once we have approvals, we can enter the markets.
“We also want Government to facilitate, the establishment of an abattoir and processing factory right here at the farm since we seem to be having challenges with the local council.
These facilities, once established, will create 40 new jobs [current workforce 262] and we will be producing food pies from pork and fish, making of premium sausages, among other consumables,” he said.
Mr Holden also complained about unfair competition on imported fish, and further urged Government to create a level playing field.
“We have no problem with importation of fish since we don’t have sufficient national stocks but the quality of fish being imported is undesirable because it is injected with water and when people cook it they get disappointed,” he said.
And Ms Kayula said Government is working towards attaining 100 percent local fish production.
“We have developed standards that are harmonised at regional level but we need to enforce these standards on imports to ensure quality fish.
We also advise you to form a separate company to run the processing factory that can even apply for incentives for tax purposes since there will be value addition,” she said.
May 3, 2017: Zambia Daily Mail
