Feed Production for Pigs, Fish and Other Local Livestock
We are in the process of building a localised feed value chain. Our plan involves sourcing maize and crop residues (stalks and cobs) directly from local smallholders to produce affordable, high-quality feed. This will provide crop farmers with a guaranteed market (Value Chain Provision) while providing affordable, high-quality feed to small-scale poultry and other livestock farmers in the area, significantly reducing their feed expenses. We are partnering with both local research institutions to pioneer a science-backed, nutrition-rich feed line that utilizes 100% locally sourced, sustainable ingredients.
Currently, we grow our own maize, which forms a key component of our feed. In the future, we plan to empower small-scale farmers as suppliers through our Outgrower Scheme, providing them with an immediate, guaranteed market for maize, azolla, and other feed ingredients.
By partnering with local farmers, we aim to strengthen livelihoods while ensuring a reliable supply of feed. Additionally, KAbV plans to supply surplus feed to small-scale livestock farmers at affordable prices, helping them reduce costs, improve productivity, and grow sustainable livestock enterprises since feed makes the highest expense in livestock farming. This approach not only secures quality inputs for our operations but also supports broader community development and food security. As we scale, we aim to produce 100% of our livestock feed using locally sourced maize and agricultural residues, supplied partly through our smallholder outgrower network. With equipment such as a chaff cutter and small-scale feed granulator, we will convert underutilised crop residues including maize cobs into nutritious livestock feed. This initiative will reduce feed costs, minimise agricultural waste, create local employment, and provide affordable feed to neighbouring small-scale farmers, demonstrating how local feed production can support more resilient and sustainable livestock farming in Zambia.
PROJECT: ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTION
Feed costs account for 70–90% of livestock production expenses, making them one of the biggest barriers to profitable livestock farming in Zambia. While large commercial farms often reduce costs through on-farm feed mixing, most small-scale farmers remain heavily dependent on expensive commercial feed. At Kalapula Agribusiness Ventures (KAbV), we are tackling this challenge by producing on-farm animal feed as part of our circular farming system. Currently, we produce about 60% of our feed using maize grown on our farm, blended with 40% commercially sourced concentrates, significantly reducing production costs while improving farm self-sufficiency. As we scale, we aim to produce 100% of our livestock feed using locally sourced maize and agricultural residues, supplied partly through our smallholder outgrower network. With equipment such as a chaff cutter and small-scale feed granulator, we will convert underutilised crop residues including maize cobs into nutritious livestock feed. This initiative will reduce feed costs, minimise agricultural waste, create local employment, and provide affordable feed to neighbouring small-scale farmers, demonstrating how local feed production can support more resilient and sustainable livestock farming in Zambia.