By JUDITH NAMUTOWE –
THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) is looking for private investors to partner with the Government in the development of infrastructure in
Nansanga farming bloc in Serenje District.
ZDA communications and public relations manager Margaret Chimanse said the Government was seeking a Joint Venture partner to develop 11,921 hectares of land as a Core Venture in the farm bloc.
The 11,921 hectares comprised large farms of 9,350 hectares and 2,571 hectares, collectively called the Core Venture, to be developed through the Joint Venture with about 350 small and medium size farms of various sizes to serve as units for out-grower schemes.
Ms Chimanse said prospective bidders would be required to pay a non-refundable application fee of US$5,000 prior to their submission of the pre-qualification application form.
She said entities seeking to partner with the Government should have a financial capacity of $20m shareholders, equity for private operations or a minimum market capitalisation of US$100m for listed companies.
The Government embarked on the commercialisation of farm blocs in the country by making land available for large scale agro-business
investments.
“The Government in collaboration with the multi-sectoral committee of the Farm Bloc Development Programme want parties to partner with
Government for the purpose of developing the Nansanga Farm Bloc Core Venture,” Ms Chimansa said.
She said the private investor would partner with Government to co-own and develop the Core Venture through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be established as a joint venture.
Ms Chimanse said the joint venture would develop infrastructure within two farms under the Core Venture, undertake its own primary agriculture activities and support the development of the small and medium scale farmers through an out-grower scheme for viable agro-activities preferred by the Joint Venture.
The Joint Venture would further establish agro-processing plants for value addition for farm produce targeted for both domestic and international markets.
