The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) has approved the setting up of two organic fertiliser blending plants valued at US$3 million in Lusaka Province.
ZEMA acting director general Maxwell Nkoya said the two projects were proposed to be set up in Chilanga District by Malcut Investments and Golden Horse Investments at a cost of US$ 2,000,000 and US$ 1,000,000 respectively.
Mr Nkoya said the fertiliser blending plants had been approved in accordance with the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2012 and the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997.
He said in a statement during the seventh extraordinary and 11th ordinary sittings of the Environmental Assessment Committee of the Board, that a total of 106 projects were considered.
“The total investment value for the projects considered is over $243,114,558.37 which is equivalent to K5, 090,843,163.72.
The approved fertiliser projects aim to produce fertiliser from organic materials such as chicken manure, vegetative waste, black soil, molasses and saw dust,” he said.
The organic fertiliser production would service local farmers and contribute towards Government efforts to provide cheap and readily available fertiliser for the agricultural sector. “Zambia’s economy is predominantly driven by the agriculture sector and efforts to supplement Government initiatives have the potential to contribute to food security,” said Mr Nkoya. ZEMA commended the support of stakeholders that participated in the environmental assessment process.
