Zimplow to export 25 000 ox-drawn ploughs to Angola

Farm implements manufacturer, Mealie-Brand says it will this year export 25 000 ox-drawn ploughs into the Angolan market driven by the growth and development of agriculture in that country.

Mealie Brand is Zimplow’s key agriculture implements unit with markets through-out sub-Saharan Africa. Last year, the company, exported 16 400 ox-drawn ploughs to the southern African country.

Managing director Walter Chigwada said that his company exports to the sub-Saharan Africa with its major markets being Angola, Zambia, South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana.

He did not give figures for other markets.

“In 2014, we exported 16 400 ox-drawn ploughs to Angola and this year we are targeting to export 25 000 ploughs to that country. Angola has been a market that we have been developing overtime, and agriculture is still developing in that market and we believe it is right for us to grow our business in that market,” he said.

Chigwada said his company began exporting to Angola in 2008 when it exported 800 ox-drawn ploughs.

The company is trying to strategically position itself in Mozambique after pulling out of the East African market due high to competition from cheaper products from the Far East.

“We used to export to East Africa but we pulled back due to viability challenges we faced because of the Chinese competition,” he said.

Last year, Mealie-Brand was crowned the ZimTrade overall exporter of the year.

The firm  produces a wide range of animal drawn implements which provides mechanisation solutions for land preparation, planting, and crop cultivation through to post harvest.

In the full year to December last year, it reported a five percent growth in volumes and an 11 percent rise in export sales.- The Source

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