Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia Limited (NCZ) the country’s flagship fertilizer producer and the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve the production, distribution, and marketing of fertilizers across Zambia.
The agreement was signed at the NCZ factory in Kafue District. It establishes a framework for the two organizations to work together to deliver high-quality, locally produced fertilizers to farmers nationwide through ZCF’s cooperative network, which serves over 3 million farmers.
NCZ Chief Executive Officer Chanda Mongo said the partnership will ensure farmers in every part of the country have access to reliable fertilizers. “This partnership underscores our commitment to ensuring that every farmer, regardless of their location, has access to quality fertilizers. Together with ZCF, we are advancing the government’s vision for a resilient and self-sustaining agricultural sector,” he stated.
ZCF Director General Godfrey Munyoro said the collaboration will also provide farmers with training on proper fertilizer use. “By partnering with NCZ, we are ensuring that farmers receive not only timely access to fertilizers but also the right knowledge to apply them sustainably, thereby improving productivity and protecting the environment,” he added.
The MOU includes a focus on climate-smart and environmentally friendly farming practices. It supports Zambia’s goals for sustainable development and rural economic growth.
The partnership is projected to create at least 500 direct jobs in logistics, extension services, and processing, while generating secondary employment through agro-dealerships and transport networks across Zambia’s ten provinces.
Established in 1967, as a cornerstone of Zambia’s import-substitution industrial policy by Zambia’s first President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, NCZ remains state-owned and operates the only integrated urea and compound fertilizer complex in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) outside South Africa and remains a regional powerhouse since independence, supplying fertilizer to Zambia and neighboring countries.
