Zambeef Products Plc’s customers are to benefit from price reductions of between 2 and 5 percent on a range of its Novatek stockfeed products thanks to the strengthening kwacha and production efficiencies.
“The reduction in prices will assist our farmers to compete favourably and turn a profit with the end consumers enjoying high quality, well-priced meat, dairy products and eggs as this benefit is passed along the value chain,” said Novatek General Manager Walter Roodt.
Roodt also made reference to the Zamhatch feedmill currently under construction in Mpongwe and the fish feed extrusion plant that will double in capacity to 1600t/m in support of the aquaculture industry in the fourth quarter this year, saying farmers could expect more of the quality affordable feed with the completion of the projects.
“The two feed plants will significantly contribute to increased feed milling capacity for Novatek and bring more healthy competition on the market,” he added.
Novatek has experienced steady growth since the introduction of its products on the market. Animal feed production rose by 10 percent to 130,279 tonnes during the financial year to September 30, 2015, compared with 118,885 tonnes in the previous year.
A new range of economy feeds was also launched under the brand name “Zamfeed”, levelling the playing field and helping small-scale farmers to compete on equal terms with their commercial counterparts in the supply of livestock.
Customers can purchase the feed at any of the 90 Novatek outlets across the country, along with a further three outlets in Zambeef Macro Outlets, which provide a smart one-stop shop where consumers can buy the full range of Zambeef products including meat, fish, dairy products, Novatek stockfeed and Zamhatch day-old chicks.
Novatek produces 13,000 tonnes of stockfeed every month to feed chickens, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and fish. Some 30 percent goes into the Zambeef value chain to be fed to poultry, cattle and pigs, which are then slaughtered, processed and sold in the group’s shops countrywide.
The remaining 70 percent of the stockfeed is sold to farmers across Zambia and the Southern Africa region. Exports account for some 8 percent of revenue.
