Online Reporter
Judith Phiri
Zimpapers Business Hub
LEADING stock feed manufacturer, Profeeds, is set to pour in an additional $1 million into its $11 million state-of-the-art Bulawayo plant, which has been commended for its advanced technologies and automation.
Coupled with cutting-edge machinery, Profeeds has increased its manufacturing capabilities, solidifying its position as a top animal feed producer in Zimbabwe.
It produces a wide variety of feeds for different animals, and its product line includes feed for poultry (broilers, layers, ducks, and free-range birds), cattle, pigs, goats, rabbits, horses, fish and even dogs. They also offer various other farming products and services through their retail stores.
In an interview after the tour of the facility by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mangaliso Ndlovu, on Thursday, Profeeds Finance Director, Mr Rumbidzo Ndewere, said an additional investment of $1 million was being put into the plant.
“Three years ago, we invested into acquiring this property, and down the line we committed to a stock feed manufacturing plant in Bulawayo to the tune of $11 million, with another $1 million to be invested by the end of October, where we are going to expand our distribution warehousing capacity,” he said.
“This highly technological plant employs 150 people and it has the capacity of 7 500 metric tonnes of stock feed per month, but currently we are utilising about 90 percent of its capacity, depending on the formulas and type of feed that we are producing.”
He said they were producing 6 500 to 6 700 metric tonnes of stock feed per month over three shifts in 24 hours a day.
Mr Ndewere said they were now in a stable state of production where all their costs were steady and fixed.
“This is a highly efficient plant and our cost of production has come down by a mere 40 percent. Our distribution costs within the Matabeleland region have also come down significantly because the route to market distance has reduced,” he added.
“Before this plant came into effect we were distributing to Matabeleland and the central regions of the country from Harare, so by employing capital in this region, we have since realised the benefits of a reduction in costs.”
He said the investment in the plant has benefited the Matabeleland region greatly and the country as well, in that it has brought competition, distribution chain partners and more suppliers into the stock feed market.
Mr Ndewere said they have also got two hatcheries to come into the region whom they have partnered with in the stock feed manufacturing business.
“In short, it’s not only about profits, but also investment benefits for the Matabeleland region.”
The Minister said such an investment by Profeeds was key to the re-industrialisation drive of Bulawayo and the country.
“Under the industrialisation and re-industrialisation of Zimbabwe taking place under the Second Republic, we have witnessed remarkable investment that has gone into retooling and bringing the latest technologies right across the manufacturing sector,” he said.
“When I was touring the plant we witnessed how advanced automation and technologies have increased their production capabilities, however, it is also impressive to see they still have a human touch on packing; that’s how automated they are.”
He said it was quite refreshing to see such an investment in Bulawayo which has taken place over the last three years by Profeeds.
Minister Ndlovu said this was in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision in agriculture which has resulted in performance growth and inspired investment into agro-processing.
“The country has been witnessing numerous investments into agro-processing and with the coming in of the Profeeds Bulawayo plant, it is driving down substantially the price of stock feed,” he added.
“Competitors again are also reducing their prices, which shows there is healthy competition. I’m also happy that we have been able to support such investments with duty-free imports of equipment under the facilities that we support our private sector with.”
He commended Profeeds for the investment as they were now commanding the Southern region and said their hope was to see more similar investments into agro-processing.
The Minister said the organisation has balanced their technology advancement and the need to keep employment.
“We are seeing this right across, whether we like it or not, for you to be more productive and efficient you have to embrace technology. It means that even as we plan our education system, it has to focus on the jobs of the future, people who will remain relevant in the era that we are approaching or we are already in,” he added.
“Profeeds have done very well to bring these technologies and this plant, because of its technological advancement, is more effective than the Harare plant, which is slightly older than this one.”
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter