MUTARE An international company, Fatlands International, has said it is negotiating with fertilizer firms for possible joint production of organic fertilizer.Fatlands International chief executive officer, Emanuel Epsilon, told The Zimbabwean that a deal on mass production of organic fertilizer would be reached soon as the industry had shown great interest in the project.
He said co-opting the industry would also boost farmers confidence on the fertilizer, as most growers were still skeptical about organic compost. Something is in the pipeline for the mass production of organic fertilizer, Epsilon said. Talks are already underway.
He said organically produced goods were in high demand the world over as customers had become more conscious about the healthiness of what they eat. The 2010 Soccer World Cup final set for South Africa in June was also expected to see the demand for organically produced food rise, he added.
Organically produced goods attract a niche market on the global market, Epsilon said, adding that a number of local food firms including hotels were now also becoming more interested.
If Zimbabwe managed to abundantly produce organic fertilizer, the country could also export the excess and generate foreign currency, he said. The fertilizer industry is currently grappling to produce enough of the commodity due to crippling challenges that include lack of funds to source inputs.
Post published in: News