Africa
Aller Aqua’s latest plant heralds Danes’ onward advance into Africa
DANISH feed company Aller Aqua has long had an interest in African aquaculture, with a major presence in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. But its latest investment of $10 million in a feed factory in Zambia demonstrates a step-up in its commitment to the sector’s future.
availability, economic feed conversion rate, high and consistent quality, training and local presence.
Niels Lundgaard, the group’s commercial director in Africa, told delegates during a seminar on building value chains that the Aller Aqua approach is ‘let’s grow together’.
This means hiring local teams wherever the company has bases, ensuring the constant availability of quality feed, and facilitating education and training by bringing in experts.
In Nigeria, for example, to make feed available to all the small farmers, Aller tors throughout the country, giving nearly nationwide coverage.
The education and training has enabled many farmers to change from being Farmers’ Association of Nigeria).
In Zambia, they have gone further and built a $10 million fully automated feed mill, ‘the most modern in Africa’, which was due to start production in early August. Capacity is another extrusion line.
Aller Aqua, which was the main sponsor for agreement with Yalelo, one of the world’s leading tilapia aquaculture companies, based near Siavonga on the shores of Lake Kariba.
The new factory gives the feed supplier a basis for expansion in Zambia, a country that aims to be to export to neighbouring countries such as Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa and Congo.
Lundgaard later told Fish Farmer that the agree ‘But the plant also opens up possibilities. I’m sure the factory will see great growth in a short period.’
One of the differences between Zambia and Ni he said, is availability of the needed raw materials.
To a large extend these can be procured locally in Zambia, according to Aller Aqua’s manager there, Leon Gunter. Zambia produces large quantities of imported.
feed have changed over the years, and the number of ingredients that can be used has increased markedly.
The use of Zambian raw materials - around positive impact on the price of feed and also helps Aller Aqua build closer relationships with Zambian suppliers.
Cost is of course a major issue. Feed accounts ing and feed companies need to bring farmers
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