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Business Reporter
Russian fertiliser manufacturing giant, Ekorost (PVT) Limited, through local firm Keshidale Investments, plans to set up an organic fertiliser manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe’s Manicaland Province, preferably Mutare.

The investment would expand the Russian firm’s tentacles in the local agricultural sector by bringing new technology into agriculture. The investment marks the fruition of one of many agreements signed between Russia and Zimbabwe  after Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sibusiso Moyo’s visit to the European country last year.

Minister Moyo visited Russia for the Third Session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Cooperation between Zimbabwe and Russia held in Moscow, from August 5-7 2019. As such, about 10 tonnes of organic fertiliser made by Ekorost in Russia have since been imported into the country to undergo trials as well as testing the market.

Keshidale executive director Ismail Shillaev said new technology in agriculture and adoption of organic fertilisers was key in government’s plan to retain the country’s bread basket status.

“This new organic fertiliser is a perfect fit for Zimbabwe and we have since imported some fertilisers to be tested in the local market and we have concrete plans to set up a manufacturing plant in Mutare.

“Ekorost is very much confident of Zimbabwe as a mart and we are their representative in Zimbabwe as Keshidale Investments,” Mr Shillaev said.

Since 2014 Ekorost Company has been dedicated to production of humic goods from a peat: organic fertilisers, soil-modificators, feeding additives according to the newest technology that provides a high efficiency of each product. Use of organic fertilisers means high productivity is also guaranteed.

Ekorost is registered in the Ryazan region near Moscow and its products are certified and have passed tests put in place by the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and several foreign countries’ regulatory authorities.

The company sells its products and has sales offices in countries such as: Serbia, Italy, Georgia, Kazakhstan, India, United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.

According to the report by the foreign affairs minister to Cabinet after his visit of Russia, deliberations achieved a number  of agreements in specified sub-sectors of Bilateral Cooperation, totalling six.

These included mutual protection of classified information; cooperation in the fields of geological exploration and mineral resource management; platinum group metals; diamond exploration and mining.