By HELEN ZULU –
ZAMBEEF  Products has implored Zambians to buy local products to support the growth of medium and small-scale farmers in the country.
Zambeef Joint chief executive officer Francis Grogan said by buying home-grown produce, consumers would be supporting the farming community, including thousands of small-scale entrepreneurs who supplied cattle, pigs, chickens and milk to the company.
Mr Grogan said there was no need for Zambians to buy imported products when the local ones were available.?He said Zambia’s agriculture sector had the capacity to feed the nation hence the need not to rely on imported food.
“By buying home-grown produce, consumers will be supporting the farming community, including thousands of small-scale entrepreneurs who supply cattle, pigs, chickens and milk to us.
There is no point in us buying imported goods when we can buy our home grown, produced and processed products.
Zambia has the potential to feed itself as well as the rest of Southern Africa with irrigation and proper agricultural practices,” Mr Grogan said.
He was speaking when a group of United States of America (USA) based educators toured Zambeef’s Huntley Farm operations in Chisamba on Wednesday.
Mr Grogan said with Zambia turning its focus to agriculture and agribusiness, it was evident that there was more untapped potential in the sector with 80 per cent of Zambia’s land being arable, natural resources of fertile soils, excellent growing climate, and abundant fresh water resources.?He called on those engaged in agriculture to be resilient whenever faced with challenges.
“Challenges are there every day but there are challenges in every business in every country all over the world.
It is up to management to find solutions and move forward and not look back,” Mr Grogan said.
US department of state, political, economics officer Adam Ross said it was good to see companies like Zambeef working with medium and small-scale farmers for mutual benefit.
“We are impressed with Zambeef’s integrated business model, it is refreshing to see big companies such as Zambeef working together with medium and small-scale farmers for mutual benefit,” Mr Ross said.