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The Zambia National Service (ZNS) has announced plans to purchase more than 20,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer from Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ).
ZNS Commander Lieutenant General, Maliti Solochi, said the move was meant to boost agriculture production in all the service’s units.
Solochi said this when NCZ Chief Executive Officer, Martin Mongo, paid a courtesy call on him at the ZNS Headquarters in Lusaka on Friday.
The ZNS Commander directed the production units across the country to purchase Basal Fertilizer from NCZ for the 2024/25 farming season and beyond.
“We have resolved to engage NCZ to supply us with fertilizer in the next farming season as we embark on increasing our agriculture production,” he said.
Solochi said the move was in a bid to support local industries and was of firm belief that NCZ fertilizer was authentic and of good quality.
The ZNS Commander said the service had already set aside funds to procure the consignment.
“We are confident that NCZ will supply us with high quality fertilizer which will help boost our production capacity,” he said.
Solochi stated that in line with the directive by President Hakainde Hichilema, all ZNS personnel should participate in national food security by cultivating at least a hector or more of the staple crop.
The Commander further disclosed plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NCZ to enable service personnel acquire fertilizer on a salary backed loan.
He assured service personnel of guaranteed market and prompt payment for the output.
“Service intends to cultivate more than 2,000 hectors of maize in order to meet the high demand of the commodity on the market which will result in drastic reduction of mealie meal prices,” Solochi said
The Commander said ZNS was also willing to partner with NCZ to distribute fertilizer under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) through its units dotted across the country in a timely manner.
He lauded NCZ for being proactive in producing fertilizer locally which he said would help to reduce the cost of accessing the commodity on the market.
“We are also grateful for hiring our private security company Eagles Alert at the NCZ headquarters. We are also ready to extend such services to some of your depot as and when engaged,” Solochi said.
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Meanwhile, Monga said looking at ZNS undeniable, large and visible contribution to the nation’s food security, the company decided to approach the ZNS to consider procurement of NCZ fertilizer which was manufactured to meet local standards.
He assured of consistent supply of suitable fertilizer and pledged to conduct soil sampling prior to blending of fertilizer tailor made for each unit.
“We realize that our fertilizer is on very high demand hence plans are already in the pipeline to increase our production capacity to meet at least 50 per cent of the country’s demand,” Monga said.
He stated that NCZ was in the process of acquiring new equipment to boost capacity from the current 20 percent to meet the intended target.
Monga said aside from manufacturing fertilizer, NCZ had further diversified into production of battery water.
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