LUSAKA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango on Friday said that the conflict in the Middle East has not affected the country's fertilizer supply, as the southern African nation is now self-sufficient following improved investment in local fertilizer production.
The vice president said Zambia could have faced negative consequences from the conflict, as in previous years when it relied on imports of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer from the Middle East, adding that this is no longer the case due to improved local production.
While acknowledging that the conflict has disrupted global supply chains and driven up the cost of critical agricultural inputs like fertilizer, Nalumango noted that the country has remained stable due to investments in local production.
"Just as you can see, we are well placed today because what we see the war doing is affecting both the cost and access to fertilizer," she said while answering questions from lawmakers in parliament.
Nalumango added that Zambia's ability to produce fertilizer locally has not only ensured a consistent supply on the domestic market but has also enabled the country to export to neighboring nations. This marks a shift from previous years, when Zambia relied heavily on imports from the Middle East for its fertilizer needs.
Meanwhile, the vice president said the government is in advanced talks with Angola and Nigeria on the possibility of importing petroleum products from the two countries, as Zambia currently sources much of its fuel from the Middle East.
She added that the government is actively exploring alternative fuel supply options in Africa in response to rising costs and supply uncertainties stemming from tensions in the Middle East. ■
