ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System

 ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System

 ISO 45001:2015 Safety Management system

 We  uphold high safety standards as conformance to ISO 45001:2015, the Safety Management System ZFC is certified to. As such, we are prepared for any safety emergencies that may arise. The safety of our employees, contractors, subcontractors, visitors and customers is of paramount importance to us. We utilise the Behaviour Based System employee suggestion method as an incident preventive tool where unsafe acts and conditions are addressed before deteriorating into incidents.

At ZFC we sustainably manufacture fertiliser with minimum impact on our environment. We are certified to ISO 14001:2015 and implement management programs to prevent any harm to the environment that may arise from our activities. Dust is a significant aspect which has been curbed by construction of a dry scrubber as part of our dust abatement program. This has significantly reduced the amount of dust emitted into the environment to the blue band, as evidenced by the Environmental Management Agency Blue License.

Last but not least ZFC is customer centric as demonstrated by certification to ISO9001:2015. We have a laboratory that assures we use quality raw materials to produce our trusted quality product. Our lab also conducts full soil analysis as well as pH analysis. This gives us the edge in manufacturing fertiliser specific to meet customer crop requirements

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In order to achieve our ZERO Harm mantra, ZFC concrete lined all the site drains and re-routed all the runoff into a concrete lined pond, the Osborne Pond. This nutrient rich water was then pumped into recycled old fuel storage tanks which were placed in a bunded area to ensure zero leakage to the environment. The effluent is now being put to better usage, that is, irrigation of the seedlings at our concrete lined Aspindale tree and flower nursery.

ZFC Ltd aims to fulfil the triple bottom line namely; People, Profit and Planet.

People

The ZFC Ltd Nursery project managed to create employment. This better improves the livelihoods of the people working at the nursery and wholesalers who resale plants, tree and flower seedling.

Profit

The tree seedlings, flower and plant seedlings are able to germinate and grow with minimal additional fertilizer as the nutrient rich effluent caters for the plant growth needs. This also lowers the cost of propagation at the same time conserving fertilizer. ZFC Ltd is able to serve the community by providing cost effective tree seedlings for a profit.

ZFC Ltd applied and was granted an exemption from the EMA Effluent License saving huge compliance cost arising from the red class penalty fees.

Planet

The nursery propagates variety of flower, plant and tree seedlings which also plays a pivotal role in combating climate change as trees and plants are the biggest carbon sink. Ultimately ZFC Ltd will become a carbon neutral entity.

Recycling of the effluent and its resultant use in irrigation has been significantly beneficial to the environment as this lowers the downstream effects of eutrophication as well as the immediate effect of prevention of groundwater pollution. This ensures cleaner borehole water.

It would be remiss to not talk about the beautiful ambience also brought about by the esthetics from our nursery.

Compiled by Samantha Chigoverah

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ZFC Ltd manufactures compound fertilizers. Fertilizer manufacturing requires filler to act as a binding agent for effective nutrient distribution per granule. In yester years ZFC Ltd abstracted top soil as filler for over half a century. This resulted in massive land degradation as evidenced by the deep gulleys at the Aspindale Factory Deka Gate Road entrance.

In a bid to achieve Zero Harm to the environment, ZFC Ltd engaged Kensy, a building projects Company. The arrangement was such that, all the top soil excavated from the building projects by Kensy around Harare, would be dumped into the gulleys at ZFC Ltd, Aspindale Factory.

Solution

Truckloads of top soil were deposited in a bid to reclaim the deep gulleys. ZFC provided a solution to Kensy as they would ordinarily have had to pay for dumping unwanted soil. At the same time ZFC managed to accumulate top soil, which is arable and would support plant growth instead of using rocks to backfill the gulleys.

ZFC utilized the pay-loaders to level the soil and create a gentle gradient that would further reduce soil erosion owing to runoff. To curb erosion, ZFC Ltd embarked on an Avocado plantation. With the help of the agronomical advice provided by the Technical Services department, the SHEQ department purchased the Hass type of Avocado, which is an export variety with a longer shelf life.

The reclaimed area is now a thriving avocado plantation with plans to establish a lemon plantation as well. When matured, the avocados and lemons will be supplied to supermarkets or fruit and vegetable wholesalers thereby generating income for ZFC, employment creation as well as contributing to combating climate change by acting as a carbon sink.

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National Tree Planting Day

This year ZFC Limited joined the rest of the nation in commerating National Tree Planting Day. ZFC Limited is the country’s largest manufacturer and distributor of Fertilizers and Agrochemicals. ZFC strongly believes in its corporate social responsibility obligation to maintain a sustainable environment for its customers and the community at large.

ZFC commemorated Tree planting day at St David’s Primary School in Mahusekwa, Wedza on 30 November. The event was well attended by the local community led by Chief Nyandoro, Headmaster Mr Shonhiwa, several councilors, children and staff members from both secondary and primary schools. This was uplifting as the younger generation showed interest in learning on how they could protect their future by planting more trees.

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So called since the abnormal cracking and dimpling on tomatoes looks somewhat akin to a small cat’s face. Basically, it is the abnormal development of plant tissue affecting the ovary or female sex organ which results in the flower, followed by the fruit development to become malformed. In concentric cracking, the fruit develop circular, concentric cracks around the stem end of the fruit.

In radial cracking, the fruit cracks radiate form the stem end. Cat-face is expressed as malformation and cracking of fruit at the blossom end, often exposing the locules.

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Timing is one of the most important factors in farming and can result in farmers making huge profits or suffering heavy losses. Everything in agriculture should be done at the appropriate time. A farmer may lose up to 50 kilograms of maize per hectare for every day delayed in planting. Suppose a farmer delays planting by 30 days, then that means he loses 1.5 tons per hectare and if he is intending to do 10 hectares it means the farmer loses about 15 tones and speaking in monetary terms the farmer loses a whopping $31,500 RTGS dollars – using the current GMB producer price per ton. Farmers should always carry out operations at the correct time to reduce significant financial losses.

‘Failing to PLAN is planning to FAIL’, therefore this invaluable piece of advice is coming at the right time and it reminds the farmers of – SEASON PREPAREDNESS with the following key points to note:

• Timeous acquisition of inputs ranging from fertilizers, agro-chemicals (herbicides, fungicides, insecticides) & animal heath remedies. Buying inputs on time will ensure farmers may plant at the right time rather than wait for the rains and start running around in search of inputs, remember the financial implications of late planting.
• Proper planning means farmers will choose the right seed varieties without pressure and confusion, always remember ‘It begins with the right seed’.
• Early preparations mean farmers will be able to carry out repairs, mobilize machinery for tillage and for planting.
• For farmers who rely on draught animal power, early preparations will enable them to prepare land and have time to rest the animals while maintaining them in good shape.
• Poor planning may result in farmers failing to carry out important operations such as soil testing.
• Soil testing enables the identification of nutrients and limiting factors to plant growth. Benefits of soil testing also include increase in fertilizer use efficiency by indicating appropriate rates for different soils and crops. The farmer may spend money buying fertilizer and apply them but end up with low yields. If soils tests are done the farmer will be able to know the correct type and amount of fertilizer to apply for positive results and this reduces unnecessary costs.
• Remember, ALWAYS plant with the first effective rains to maximize yields.

It would be unfair of us not to caution our dear farmers that ALWAYS ACQUIRE INPUTS from reputable suppliers with respect to seed, chemicals and fertilizers. As you might be aware that the local market is awash with counterfeits and fake products. These products always come in the cheapest/worst quality that you can never imagine and as expected the performance of these products is always below par and besides if the worst comes to the worst there may be legal implications. As the prices of goods are generally on the higher side, it may seem logical for the farmer to try and look for inputs from ‘bogus’ or ‘unregistered’ or ‘illegal’ suppliers who always sell at very attractive and decorated prices but always bear in mind that ‘Cheap is EXPENSIVE and RESULTS DON’T LIE’, farming is a profit making business and shortcuts may be detrimental business wise.

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