NANCY MWAPE, Lusaka
NITROGEN Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ), which started production of fertiliser in the second quarter, targets to produce 150,000 tonnes of Compound D for this farming season, an increase of over 25,000 tonnes.

Last year, NCZ produced 124,000 tonnes of fertiliser under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and also for the open market.

NCZ marketing and public relations manager Evans Mupeta is positive of achieving the projected target following the major rehabilitation of the plant, which was completed early this year.
“Following the rehabilitation of the plant, the firm started production of fertiliser on June 8 this year.
“Last year was very challenging [because] our target was 150,000 tonnes; we only managed to produce 124,000 tonnes plus the carry-over of 13,000 tonnes,” Mr Mupeta said in an interview on Monday during the Lusaka Agricultural and Commercial Show.
He said the firm supplied fertiliser to Neria, Omnia and the open market while Zambian Fertiliser bought 20,000 tonnes and a big portion was purchased by Government 96,000 tonnes.
Mr Mupeta, however, said the company has no tenders to supply Government with fertiliser this year as farmers will be required to buy from the company using the e-vouchers.
“Under the e-voucher system, we will be required to participate like any other fertiliser dealer in the market. People are aware of our products and what will be required of us is to simply do a vigorous marketing,” he said.
NCZ used to distribute fertiliser to all the 106 districts under the traditional FISP, and last year was present in only 65 districts.
Mr Mupeta said the outlets that NCZ used for distribute to at the time of FISP were seasonal hence the need to work hard this year.
Meanwhile, NCZ targets to produce 43,000 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate for the 2017/2018 farming season.
On exports, Mr Mupeta said the company is in discussing with clients from the Democratic Republic of Congo that need fertiliser.
“They need 25,000 tonnes of Compound D and 16,000 tonnes of Urea. Unfortunate, we don’t manufacture Urea, but ammonium nitrate. We see ourselves agreeing to supply and deliver a substantial quantity of Compound D and Ammonium nitrate in place of Urea,” he said.