PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has commissioned the Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries fertiliser blending plant, which is expected to enhance the government’s Fertiliser Import Substitution Roadmap.
Addressing various stakeholders at the commissioning ceremony today, President Mnangagwa said the new plant was testimony to the country’s investor friendly policies.
“This new blending plant is testimony that investors are responding to the clarion call for accelerated innovation, research and development riding on the science, technology and innovation ecosystem established under the Second Republic.
“It will go a long way towards supporting our economy, with expected multiplier effects in our agriculture value chain.”
Fertilisers play an important role in crop production, said the President, as they increase plant productivity and development through boosting growth, accelerating maturation, enhancing resistance, and improving the quality of fruits and seeds, leading to better harvests and earnings.
“They are a critical input for the achievement of yields that are required to feed a growing world population. Hence, without the addition of fertilisers, crop yields and agricultural productivity would be significantly reduced.”
The fertiliser blending plant will increase the availability of fertilisers, which in turn lead to production of grains such as maize, wheat as well as oil seeds to ensure national self-sufficiency.
However, President Mnangagwa bemoaned the high prices of fertilisers and urged manufacturers to review their prices.
“The current high cost of fertilisers is proving to be a key bottleneck for our farmers. This is more so for our small-holder and communal farmers as they usually cannot afford the high prices of fertilisers, ” said President Mnangagwa.
“In this regard, I would like to commend Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries for becoming the latest player in the fertiliser blending industry, with capacity of producing 200 000 tonnes of basal fertilisers per annum. The resultant increase in availability of fertilisers will in turn lead to increased production of grains such as maize, wheat as well as oil seeds to ensure national self-sufficiency.”
President Mnangagwa said the investment by Zimbabwe Phosphate Industries comes at an opportune time as the nation prepares for the 2022/2023 summer cropping season.
He said the company’s entry into the production of fertiliser blends will result in increased competition, improved product quality and reduction in the unit cost of fertiliser to the farmer.