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Zambeef Turns Waste To Free Fertiliser
ZAMBEEF Products look set to halve the amount it spends on fertiliser at its Chisamba farm this year, thanks to a new environmentally-friendly organic composting system.
The agribusiness giant currently spends around US$1 million a year on chemical fertilisers at its Huntley Farm.
But this year, the company decided to halve its fertiliser bill by using its unique advantage of having farm waste to compost into organic fertiliser.
The company is replacing some of the synthetic fertiliser with compost fertiliser and will consequently improve the fertility of the soil.
“Zambeef is continuously looking at new ideas and innovations to reduce input costs and improve productivity. Composting of the animal waste we have available is a natural solution that is both good for the environment and our bottom line,” said Zambeef’s abattoir and processing general manager Ryan Crause, who is in charge of ensuring this scheme is a success.
A ‘windrow composting’ system is being adopted to make the organic fertiliser by piling organic waste in long rows and regularly turning it to control temperature, add or remove moisture and, improve oxygen content, explained Mr Crause, who is applying techniques that he developed while previously working for a large-scale vegetable agribusiness.
“There are many advantages. One of them is that compost buffers the soil, neutralising both acid and alkaline soils, bringing pH levels to the optimum range for nutrient availability to the plants. It is also less expensive and, if you make your own compost, it is free,” he added.
While chemical fertilisers contain all the nutrients crops need, they can easily be washed away by irrigation and rain water.
Organic fertilisers, meanwhile, enhance soils by increasing the water and nutrient retention capacity due to the high level of organic matter in the compost. The resulting micro-organisms in the soil will also produce a good feeding base and create a stable soil structure.
Due to the resulting high moisture retention capacity, the amount of water needed for irrigation can be reduced substantially – saving Zambeef on the amount it spends on irrigation water.
Mr Crause said the cumulative effect of these advantages over time mean that Zambeef will be able to increase its yields at Huntley Farm.
While organic composting has numerous advantages, there are some challenges.
The biggest difficulty is regulating its temperature when making the compost. Chicken manure contains high urea nitrogen levels while hay has a high carbon content, both of which heat up the compost. If the temperature is not regulated well, the organic fertiliser could burn the roots of the crops when it is applied.
In order to prevent this from happening, Mr Crause advises that if the manure gets too hot, it needs to be turned and a small amount of water added to drop the temperature.
Apart from reducing the amount it spends on fertilisers, Zambeef will feed the nation in an environmentally sustainable way.
Zambeef has the largest row cropping operations in Africa with 23,515 hectares planted during the summer and winter seasons producing around 120,000 tonnes of maize, soyabeans, barley and wheat at its farms in Chisamba, Mpongwe, Chiawa and Sinazongwe. The group has approximately 8,120 hectares of irrigated and 8,480 hectares of rain-fed arable land available for planting each year.
Posted by Editor
on March 27, 2015. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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Czar
March 27, 2015 at 8:37 am
A certain bigoted troll will be here shortly to put a spin on this thread blaming a certain party and asking for a certain party to be voted for in 2016!
captain
March 27, 2015 at 9:47 am
I know exactly the 1d1ot you’re talking about. He’s really a bigot and I know he’ll show up. I thought I was the only one who despises this guy on this site.
Thanks mate for that!!
Shimapuli
March 27, 2015 at 11:18 am
I also hate the chap. He is called NEZ.He doesn’t use his head. I wonder whether he has any brains.
New Educated Zambia©
March 27, 2015 at 11:30 pm
kiki shimapuli, i am not surprised that you hate me.The truth and facts hate. 2016 is a still abit of a long way to go. By the time we get there you might hung yourself. kiki
New Educated Zambia©
March 27, 2015 at 11:52 am
Please refer to my comment below. I know you have all been anxiously waiting to hear what the UPND thinks on this matter. Good morning
sichone
March 27, 2015 at 8:48 am
I know the guy you are talking about who has nothing to do apart from complaning and blaming others. Thats his job.
poly
March 27, 2015 at 9:30 am
Progessive idea for a third-world country.Please, remember to let us know at what stage formaldehyde will be brought into this process.
kakolwe
March 27, 2015 at 10:37 am
Good damage control. When you fed us on aldehydes and Ketones tashalebola! Did you just get a new policy from PF or did you have to wait for icilema to become emporor of Utopia for you to innovate? Tell that NEZ imbecile that opportunities are there to be grabbed by the swift in brains.
Bim sala Bim
March 27, 2015 at 11:06 am
This is a good thing but as usual a socialpath called nNEZ will try as much as possible to talk ill of this.wonder what NEZ says when given a gift at a party I assume he blames you for buying the gift and the govt for making money.NEZ you need to open your eyes
AMAI TILIKUSELI
March 27, 2015 at 11:16 am
NEZ can”t say anything isterd he will copie the idea but him will be using his feces to grow vegetables at his back yard garden.
New Educated Zambia©
March 27, 2015 at 11:35 am
This is good initiative by a business that has no obligation to be environmentally friendly considering the fact that the PF government has not put going green as a priority in Zambia and has no legal framework in place. We therefore salute you Zambeef and please we in the UPND ask that you also engage with the smaller local producers in order for them to learn from you so that we can pass on the benefits to the man at the bottom of the chain. It is nothing new that the UPND has priority in its manifesto to institute clear measures to reduce carbon emissions or green house gases in order to halt global warming and the current Adverse changes in weather patterns that consequently affect food production.Vote UPND to see such initiatives been given support
KC
March 28, 2015 at 7:22 am
Zambeef has always known this but due to the exchange rate they would rather use organic waste for there ferts now to cut down on input costs.We can all make composts.Even the human waste we keep flushing can be utilized people！Africa open your eyes….puliz…I am shocked with the way some people want to look at ZAMBEEF as a genius.Every get of here and go and teach your grandfathers on how to make a compost for his farm use.
New Educated Zambia©
March 28, 2015 at 11:06 am
No one has looked at z beef as a genius silly chap. We areIimpressed with their initiative. You like many zambians especially pf are good at talking. Why is it so hard to do these things if your village knows how to? Do it then open that your big mouth
Masiye
March 27, 2015 at 2:20 pm
A great idea indeed.
Judge Joe Bidden
March 27, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Did ZamBeef conduct EIA or a research on the effects of Organic fertilizers on human health and the environment as some may also contain ingredients that have not been harvested in the most eco-friendly way.
Judge Joe Bidden
March 27, 2015 at 3:30 pm
Some of these industry byproduct may be contaminated with PCBs and mercury. Thats why in some developed countries they allow their use only under the strict warning that humans should avoid direct contact with them.
KC
March 28, 2015 at 7:33 am
Organic ferts are the most eco-and enviromentally friendly ferts one can use.No scientist should lie about this.Nothing beats natural substances.We get discouraged to use O.F for commercial reasons.Sythentic fertilizers are a multi-million dollar business and offcourse they do wonders in countries with poor soils….As for Zambia we do not need them.
On the overall the process of producing synthentic ferts is not enviromentally friendly！
Judge Joe Bidden
March 28, 2015 at 8:01 am
Being in a developing country doesn’t mean you need to accept every farming method. It may sound cheaper but it can be dangerous to human and the environment. Being meat byproducts means they continue the putrefaction process and emit or produce other toxins.
John kabengele
March 27, 2015 at 5:57 pm
Progress, we the farmers, and our president is into it producing to feed the Nation, our own HH! Forward
Czar
March 27, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Everything is seen through the eyes of HH, shallow reasoning indeed!
KC
March 28, 2015 at 7:36 am
May be he wants to utilize the dung at one of the ranches for O.F production.If thats the reasoning behind it then its fine.
Czar
March 27, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Shallow reasoning!
shyster
March 27, 2015 at 7:20 pm
They should incoperate it wth FISP, NEZ u r da man
ken
March 27, 2015 at 10:09 pm
Journalists please, know when to say subsequently and when a consequence exist. Its so shameful. Its so pathetic to see such bad english.
Judge Joe Bidden
March 27, 2015 at 10:35 pm
I agree with you
John Tseidukan Kwempa
March 28, 2015 at 6:25 am
Hakanya Hicisushi New Eradicated
Franko
March 28, 2015 at 7:05 am
Lusaka water and sewerage corporation could take a leaf from this. Turn your inputs (poo) into fertiliser. We would be happy to get improved vegetable yields in the province! Do you SMELL a rat?.
jobreaker
March 28, 2015 at 4:11 pm
but again why is it that za beef had to come out now,is it possible Pf is watching them, like they watched them then wen akainde was fofront selling us embalmed meet,him being a share holder must have known what he was feeding us,funny thing is u can’t manage to arrest these clowns because a business is a separate entity from its owners.
jobreaker
March 28, 2015 at 4:12 pm
but again why is it that zambeef had to come out now,is it possible Pf is watching them, like they watched them then wen akainde was fofront selling us embalmed meet,him being a share holder must have known what he was feeding us,funny thing is u can’t manage to arrest these clowns because a business is a separate entity from its owners.
jobreaker
March 28, 2015 at 4:18 pm
and that’s the kind of upnd mentality,even ka edu admits it all the time he brags of the upnd being of only smart people,being intelligent has two sides,u can use Ur knowledge to teach others or u can dupe them from what’s rightfully theirs,and we all know good clean meat is rightfully ours if we paid for it,but here we see sharp heads coming together to plan on how they can feed Zambia meat that looks fresh but doesn’t smell fresh at all,and that’s akainde Ur president for u