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120 000 tonnes of the product per annum.
Organic fertilisers are a combination of organic materials, which include humus and other natural bio degradable resources which are brought together to form various types of fertilisers.

According to the Industrial Development Corporation, Zimbabwe has eight major reserves of organic fertilisers that are still to be fully exploited, among them Bashungwi Caves, Hurungwe (Mashonaland West Province) and Mabura Caves in the Zhombe area of the Midlands Province.

Nico Orgo commercial director Mr Sylvester Tsikisayi said the Bindura plant would have an installed capacity of between 60 000 and 70 000 tonnes per annum.
“We are in talks with some foreign financiers to get US$5 million to establish an organic fertiliser manufacturing plant in Bindura. The engagement is at government to government level and we hope the deal will be sealed soon,” Mr Tsikisayi said.

“We want to set up the plant where farmers are to cut costs. We also have plans to set up other manufacturing plants in Chinhoyi, Marondera and Manicaland.”
Mr Tsikisayi said the project proposals had been sent to the financiers.

“We are ready to kickstart the project as soon as we get the finance. The plan is already in place,” he said.
Nico Orgo managing director Mr John Chimedza said the product had been received well by farmers.

“Farmers have endorsed the product because they have seen tangible results associated with organic fertilisers compared to traditional ones,” he said.
“With organic fertilisers nutrients will be readily available in the soil. Soil structure, drainage and aeration are also improved significantly for better yields.”

Under the organic blend, the company has maize organic enriched basal, organic soil builder, gypsum, tobacco enriched fertilizer and cotton organic enriched fertilisers.
Apart from organic fertilisers, the company has chemical blends which include Compound D, Superior D, Compound C, Superior tobacco blend medium T, Medium tobacco blend, potato blend, and standard cotton blend among others. — New Ziana.