Buya Bamba: Bringing Food Security to Zambia
Zambia has started exporting fresh potatoes and frozen French fries to South Africa and Namibia.
The export is taking place through Shoprite, one of the continent's largest retail supermarkets.
Local Shoprite and Hungry Lion outlets in Zambia have concurrently stopped importing potatoes from South Africa because Buya Bamba can meet the quality and demand requirements locally.
Until recently, Zambia would import millions of dollars’ worth of frozen potatoes from foreign markets including South Africa. Domestic production, it is hoped, will reduce the costs for Zambian purchasers whilst also leading to Forex savings for the Zambian economy.
In 2021 the firm completed the construction of a $7 million dollar factory for the production of commercial frozen chips. It is the only one of its kind in Zambia, and it is hoped it can make Zambia a net exporter.
Buya Bamba has been in operation since 1999, initially created by Anthony Barker and Juri van Zyl to connect potato farmers with the restaurants and retail outlets that needed their produce. They’re now a major and essential contributor to Zambian agriculture. Their seeds are chosen with care to ensure sustainability and high yields for the Zambian ecosystem and economy.
As well as the farming of potatoes, Buya Bamba also run an impressive logistics organisation to help get Zambian potatoes into supermarkets across southern Africa.
President Hichilema is keen to support the growth of small-holder farming in Zambia. Indeed, promised in the 2023 budget are 256 additional extension support officers and 69% budgetary increase for the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Plan. The plan now boasts a budget of K9.1 billion.
Managing Director, Anthony Barker, believes the company’s greatest strength is providing small farmers with access to the market. “We let every single consumer, including takeaways, restaurants, corporate restaurants, supermarkets, and the end-user access potatoes from the small farmers,” he commented.
Barker told Business Focus that he is optimistic about the Zambian market going forward. “[I] believe that there’s going to be more stability in times to come, and I think the future looks bright for Zambia at this point. We’ve invested in that future as a company,” he said.
“The people in Zambia are amazing,” Barker insists. “They’re really a very hard-working culture, and I’m very proud to work with them. I am Zambian myself and I am very proud to work with the Zambian people. We are providing options for people to buy and sell potatoes, providing for all walks of life. I love Zambia and will continue to invest here- this is my home.”
The company also hold significant amounts of potato seed in cold storage. Potato seedlings are easily perishable so cannot be held in ordinary warehouses or by the typical farmer for extended periods of time. These stores help ensure the year-on-year continuation of production even if the preceding harvest proved unfruitful. However, Barker wants to see cold storage grow in Zambia in order to make the country fully self-sufficient and a net exporter.
Food security is a key priority for both the Zambian government and international agencies. In an agreement signed at the US-Africa Leaders Summit earlier this month, USAID and the Zambian government agreed to cooperate through the Prosper Africa initiative to increase regional food security. While the initiative will focus specifically on reducing post-harvest losses on Maize, the improvements in research and equipment are designed to improve the efficiency and security of food production across the board.