Israel firm seeks investment in Zambia’s agriculture sector
LUSAKA, Zambia (Xinhua) — An Israel-based firm has expressed interest in investing in Zambia’s agriculture sector, a company official said yesterday.
ZRB Group of Companies said it is interested in partnering with local firms for the development of commercial integrated farming.
Zeez Zacharin, the leader of the company’s delegation which is in Zambia to explore investment opportunities following a visit by President Edgar Lungu to Israel recently, said the firm is interested in investing in a number of agro-related fields.
In remarks delivered when the delegation paid a courtesy call on Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya, the official said the company, which is also based in Angola where it produces about 250 million eggs per year, wanted to have a similar production in Zambia, as well as engage in the production of 100,000 tons of vegetables per year under an outer-grower scheme with local smallholder farmers.
The firm’s goal, he added, is to train smallholder farmers to produce high-quality agricultural products in order to boost Zambia’s food production.
On her part, the Zambian minister said more companies from Israel have expressed willingness to invest in the agricultural sector in the country following the high-level visit to that country.
She said the Government is in a hurry to see more investments in the agricultural sector, adding that the investments in the sector will see more Zambian products on the local and international markets and boost businesses of smallholder farmers.