German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, Bayer, has today (Wednesday, March 19) announced the opening of a new maize seed facility in Kabwe, Zambia.
The €32 million facility, the second largest private investment by a German firm in Zambia, supports Bayer’s growth strategy to double its crop science division’s business in Africa by 2030.
According to Bayer, this facility will provide for the annual maize consumption of approximately 30 million people in the region, with seed output expected to further increase in the coming years.
Maize is considered a staple food crop in Africa and in Zambia, nshima, a maize-based meal, constitutes a significant part of the Zambian daily diet, providing 60% of the average individual’s caloric needs, Bayer stated.
The high-yielding seeds produced at the facility are also expected to reach 6.4 million smallholder farmers in Zambia and other countries in sub-saharan Africa this year, including an additional 10 million by 2030, the company forecast.
Bayer chief executive officer, Bill Anderson, inaugurated the site alongside the president of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema.
Anderson said: “Millions of people around the world, particularly in sub-saharan Africa, suffer from severe food insecurity. Ending hunger is central to our mission at Bayer. With our new seed facility in Zambia, we want to make a meaningful contribution to that crucial goal.”
Despite its vast arable land and significant agricultural potential, one in five people on the continent face food and nutrition insecurity, particularly in sub-saharan Africa, due in part to the limited agronomic knowledge and access to modern technology in the region, Bayer explained.
The firm said that the facility will aim to address these challenges by increasing both the quantity and the quality of certified seeds, which will offer higher yields and enhanced resilience to climate and disease.
Alongside stewardship and agronomic training, these conventional hybrid maize seeds produced will empower farmers in Zambia and neighbouring countries to produce more food more efficiently, thereby increasing their productivity and contributing to food security.
Bayer
The company explained that this will particularly benefit smallholder farmers, who, on average, cultivate crops on less than 10ha and produce up to 70% of the food consumed on the continent.
Head of Bayer’s crop science division in Africa, Debra Mallowah said: “Enhanced productivity not only increases food security, but it makes a tremendous difference for the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, their families, and even their communities.
“Enhanced productivity not only increases food security, but it makes a tremendous difference for the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, their families, and even their communities.”
The new facility is also anticipated to stimulate economic growth in the region by creating jobs and business opportunities.
Bayer announced plans to employ 80 permanent staff members and over 100 seasonal workers and contractors at the site. Additionally, approximately 15,000 seasonal on-farm jobs will be generated through Bayer’s field operations and those of contract growers to produce the seeds.
The German firm also outlined its plans to fund the establishment of a new health center in the municipality of Kabwe, which aims to provide essential healthcare services to more than 10,000 residents, including Bayer employees and their dependents.
“The new facility will help us improve food security, empower smallholder farmers, and support communities in numerous countries on the African continent. It’s also a great business opportunity for Bayer. We can’t wait to ramp up production,” Anderson concluded.
