CSC-Boustead Beef set to unlock value chain of livestock
THE livestock value chain is set to benefit from Cold Storage Company-Boustead Beef Company (CSC) after the company opened a butchery in Bulawayo last week.
The butchery is located at the factory along Josiah Chinamano Road in Belmont.
The revival of Bulawayo-headquartered Cold Storage Company (CSC)-Boustead Beef after 22 years of closure has seen the giant company back to selling meat and creating employment.
Boustead Beef Zimbabwe
Under the renewed model, CSC-Boustead Beef has so far invested US$24 million and targets to slaughter up to 1 500 beasts per day at peak, starting with about 200 per day, and will work closely with livestock farmers across the country, who should supply 90 percent of feedstock.
Speaking to Business Chronicle yesterday, CSC-Boustead Beef company consultant, Mr Reginald Shoko said the opening of the butchery is going to improve farmers’ income from their cattle and unlock the value chain of livestock.
“The butchery is going to improve the income of farmers as we are removing the middleman which means more money to farmers. We are pushing for the commercialisation of the communal farmer activities,” he said.
“Farmers should benefit from keeping cattle rather than losing their livestock to middlemen for less money. We are here to make sure the cattle keep the farmer not the farmer keeping the cattle.”
He said CSC is providing contracted farmers with necessary requirements such as feeds and dipping.
“We are saying to farmers, bring your cattle and we keep them here and the company will do all requirements such as dipping, vaccinating and feeding.
“The livestock farmers will get a better income and have a better livelihood rather than losing their cattle for less money.”
Mr Shoko said the firm expects to employ more workers as the number of slaughtered cattle increases.
“We are not yet operating at our full potential because the company was recently reopened.
Employment opportunities are going to be there as we get more cattle,” he said.
The CSC was at one time the largest meat processor in Africa handling up to 150 000 tonnes of beef and associated products annually. It used to export to the European Union (EU) where it had an annual quota of 9 100 tonnes of beef.
The revival of CSC is therefore a very welcome development, not just for the residents of Bulawayo but the entire country. It is also a confirmation that Bulawayo is working to regain its status as the country’s industrial hub.
The beef processing plant is being revamped under a US$400 million Joint Venture Farming Concession Agreement with Boustead Beef Zimbabwe, a United Kingdom-based investor.-ebusinessweekly
