PAPI Investments has set aside over K4 million for the cultivation of vegetables and its seedlings to enable local farmers on the Copperbelt Province easily access farm inputs.
The project is being spearheaded by a group of young Kenyan farmers who have secured 140 hectares between Ndola and Masaiti districts.
This is contained in a Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) weekly brief availed to the media recently.
Commenting on the development, group leader Ahmed Hussein said the company, which is registered by Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), will help support communities to engage in productive farming and further strengthen the growth of horticulture in the Copperbelt Province.
“We are a group of young Kenyan farmers who are planning to invest over K4 million into the horticulture sub-sector. The company is registered by PACRA and is called PAPI Investments,” Mr Hussein said.
He said the company initially intends to start catering for the local market, but will export excess to neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Under the second phase, Mr Hussein said the company intends to go into value addition through processing of the farm produce.
Meanwhile, ActionAid Zambia intends to implement a social accountability project whose focus will be on agriculture and health issues.
ZNFU says the project will be piloted in Chipata and Mongu districts with the objective of strengthening and building capacity of farmers
