Nelson Gahadza Business Correspondent
National Foods has invested $6,2 million into contract farming in the 2014/15 agricultural season spread across maize, wheat and soya bean crops.Chief executive Mike Lashbrook said the scheme covers 58 farmers and is administered by Paperhole Investments (Pvt) Ltd.

“The investment into the 2014/15 contract farming program totals $6,2 million spread between Wheat, Maize and Soya Bean crops,” he said.

Mr Lashbrook said combined hectarage covers 7 500 hectares.

Under the scheme last season, the group produced 15 000 metric tonnes of maize and soya beans in the as well as 25 000MT wheat.

The company also procures grain from local farmers and imports in cases where there is inadequate local product.

Mr Lashbrook who was appointed as the substantive Natfoods CEO recently said the company has invested over $20 million into upgrading operations since 2009 with an additional $8 million earmarked for further capitalisation by June this year. Bulk of the expenditure went towards upgrading the food processing plants in Harare and Bulawayo’s flour milling plants.

Mr Lashbrook said the company’s focus will be to improving efficiencies across all areas of the value chain to ensure quality, affordable products.

The group plans to fund further growth initiatives through retained profit and moderate levels of borrowing with new products lines planned to consolidate its position.

Mr Lashbrook said the process of continual improvement is never complete and it was roughly half way through a major four year programme to upgrade flour mills with the significant upgrades to stock feed plants set to be complete by end of this year.