NASFA, AGROVEMI TEAM UP TO RESTORE SOILS

Deal targets affordable organic fertilisers, soil conditioners and pesticides, with local production planned

By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — 25-08-2026 — The National Association of Small-Scale Farmers (NASFA) and AgroVemi Middle East Company of Dubai have signed an agreement to supply and produce soil conditioners, organic fertilisers and organic pesticides in Zambia.

The partnership is aimed at helping restore soil fertility, improve crop productivity and make agricultural inputs more accessible and affordable to small-scale farmers.

NASFA president Professor Frank Kayula said the priority was to ensure that the products were affordable and accessible to farmers across the country.

“We need to distribute the products cheaply to farmers so that they do not become very expensive,” Professor Kayula said.

He said the agreement provides for discussions on pricing and distribution, while AgroVemi plans to establish a manufacturing plant in Zambia.

Professor Kayula said local production could reduce Zambia’s dependence on imported agricultural inputs and create opportunities to export the products to neighbouring countries.

He said the products covered by the agreement included vermicompost, organic NPK fertiliser and organic pesticides, which were intended to support soil restoration, crop nutrition and pest management.

Professor Kayula said increasing organic matter in the soil was important because it improves the uptake of conventional fertilisers such as NPK and urea.

“When there is more organic matter in the soil and you apply your fertilisers, the uptake improves. When the uptake improves, you get better crop stands, better roots and better harvests,” he said.

He said vermicompost could also improve microbial activity and the soil’s ability to retain moisture, allowing crops to make better use of rainfall and absorb nutrients more effectively.

Professor Kayula said the organic pesticide could help control pests and diseases while protecting beneficial insects and other organisms that contribute to soil health.

He said the technology could help address declining agricultural productivity among both small-scale and large-scale farmers.

“We are going to capture that and start increasing productivity amongst our small-scale farmers, even among large-scale farmers,” he said.

Professor Kayula said he would introduce the products to Government’s soil health programme so that their contribution to soil restoration and agricultural productivity could be assessed.

He said he wanted the products introduced to farmers as soon as possible and used in demonstrations during the current farming season.

The agreement comes amid concerns over declining soil fertility, with proponents of the technology arguing that low organic matter in Zambian soils contributes to poor crop response to conventional fertilisers.

According to information provided by the partners, Zambian soils generally contain about two percent organic matter, which is said to limit crop response to fertiliser applications and reduce yields below their potential.

AgroVemi says its soil conditioners can produce visible positive results within two weeks of application. The company plans to initially target maize and soya beans before expanding to other crops.

A company representative said a 25-kilogramme bag was expected to cost less than K600, depending on the final distribution arrangements.

The representative said initial tests and demonstrations had produced encouraging results, although further field assessments were needed under different Zambian conditions.

He said farmers could begin observing changes in crops within about two weeks of application, while samples had also been taken to Mount Makulu for further assessment.

The representative said the products could benefit sugarcane farmers by helping them produce bigger and taller cane, potentially increasing juice volumes and sugar production.

He also said maize farmers could potentially increase yields through improved soil management and use of the products, although actual results would depend on soil and production conditions.

The company is considering establishing distribution points in different parts of the country to reduce transport costs.

The proposed network includes a centre in Muchinga Province to serve the northern region, another in Central Province to cover Western, Copperbelt and North-Western provinces, and a Lusaka centre to serve Eastern and Southern provinces.

The representative said the distribution system would be demand-driven, allowing farmers and farming communities to place orders according to their requirements.

AgroVemi engineer Jose Rojas said the company would begin operations in Zambia with maize and soya beans before expanding its programme to other crops and communities.

Rojas said AgroVemi had conducted testing in countries including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He said the company’s products were designed to restore soil fertility by rebuilding organic matter and beneficial bacteria and fungi that have been lost over the years.

“Our objective is very easy. We want to help the people and help the planet because our product is 100 percent organic,” Rojas said.

Rojas said the company expected the first 30 containers of its products to arrive in Zambia in November, followed by a shipment of organic NPK.

He said AgroVemi also intended to work with schools and communities to train farmers in the use of the products, soil restoration and sustainable agriculture.

Rojas said the company had gained experience working in harsh conditions in Dubai, where temperatures can reach about 45 degrees Celsius, water is limited and soils are alkaline.

He said the experience gave the company confidence that its technology could also assist farmers operating in difficult agricultural environments.

“We need to recover the soil for the next generation and help farmers to do very good agriculture, 100 percent organic,” he said.

However, claims regarding the speed and extent of improvements in soil organic matter and crop productivity will need to be assessed under local Zambian soil, climatic and farming conditions.