The project involves the acquisition of the assets of Foresythe Estates Limited, an existing 19,090 hectare. The farm has been in operation for over 100 years and exclusively breeds, rears, and sells live cattle.

The project involves the acquisition of the assets of Foresythe Estates Limited, an existing 19,090 hectare. The farm has been in operation for over 100 years and exclusively breeds, rears, and sells live cattle. Silverlands Ranching is comprised of two adjacent farms covering approximately 21,000 ha in the South-Western part of Zambia.

Cattle, forage and pecan nuts

Silverlands distributed sorghum seed to 1,200 farmers (35% women) in October 2019 and provided technical training on sorghum production via field days and lead farmers. This was after Zambian Breweries approached Silverlands Ranching to facilitate smallholder production of sorghum. Silverlands invested in seed cleaning and weighing equipment, and now purchases sorghum from the farmers and delivers it to Zambian Breweries. Silverlands assumes responsibility for the quality of the product, removing this risk from the smallholder farmers. Without Silverlands these farmers would not have had access to this market, which allows them to diversify their cropping with the production of drought tolerant/climate smart crops.

Silverstreet Capital has applied for a Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency guarantee of $9.8 million for a period of up to 10 years against the risks of transfer restriction, expropriation, and war and civil disturbance

Silverstreet Capital has applied for a Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency guarantee of $9.8 million for a period of up to 10 years against the risks of transfer restriction, expropriation, and war and civil disturbance. Silverlands partnered with the Musika at the start of the project. Musika provided donor support, advice on implementation, and assisted community surveys. Silverlands Ranching ran the day-to-day out-grower programme. To further expand on the achievements of the project, AgDevCo provided $320k in donor funding through their Smallholder Development Unit for use over three years (2018 to 2021).

12,100 smallholder livestock and cropping farmers benefit and their annual incomes have increased by $224 per person each year since before the project. This year’s value-add to communities is over $2.7 million per annum. Over 35,000 cattle owned by smallholder farmers can now access 35 SLIC dipping stations. Community cattle mortality rates are down from 10% per annum to 2.3%. Calving rates are up 19%. This community dipping program continued to grow at a 25% rate in 2020 during the pandemic and despite the tough economic conditions in Zambia. The SLIC team has established 18 demonstration plots throughout the surrounding communities. Silverlands Ranching trains smallholder grain farmers in conservation agriculture and drought resistant crops with assistance from NGO Conservation Farming Unit, AgDevCo and an independent consultant. 62 field days including over 1,700 farmers have been hosted at 18 demonstration plots in community areas in the last year.

pastures and silage production, first stage of planting pecans: 70 ha of pecan orchards in 2019. The additional 60 ha planted in 2020

feedlot serving 6000 cattle p.a.

To mitigate against climate risk and enable expansion, the business constructed a 14 million cubic metre capacity dam in 2014.

502 ha of pivot irrigation

Over 70 female small-scale farmers are benefiting from the construction of the first ever goat and sheep dip station by Silverlands Ranching in Zimba district, resulting in the significant reduction in goat mortality rates.