STEWARDSHIP
CHAMPIONING BIODIVERSITY &
SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES
Responsible stewardship of natural resources and a positive effect on the surrounding communities are the core foundations of our vision.
Avocado production necessitates a long term perspective since an orchard takes around 8 years to reach full maturity and can still be productive for about 50 years. With this in mind, we have commissioned a detailed Environmental Impact Study to identify topics that assist us in protecting natural forests, waterways and wetlands. These steps have helped us maximise benefit to our local communities.
We are actively undertaking soil conservation and conditioning though extensive use of cover crops which are also important in carbon sequestration in the soil, fully committing to sustainability to benefit both present and future generations.
ENVIRONMENT
Of the overall 2,000 ha farm area, over 600 ha has been purposefully left untouched as Miombo Woodland zones.
Our Environmental Impact Study helped identify beneficial land management practises. As part of our responsible stewardship, our aim is to restore the habitat and improve biodiversity of the local flora and fauna. This specifically includes the environmentally sensitive riparian belt along the Mupoposhi River as well as a small tributary watercourse that flows into it.
The indigenous vegetation has been denuded and degraded over time by traditional cut and burn cultivation practises, known locally as chitamene. We are actively propagating indigenous forest tree species to rejuvenate and restore the vegetation voids particularly by reintroducing the larger emergent and upper canopy trees that have been felled previously under the traditional chitamene cultivation system.
International Standards for Responsible Agriculture
We adhere to the strict, international standards of responsible agricultural practice laid down by recognised accreditation agencies such as Global G.A.P. covering.
- Food safety
- Fair and safe working conditions
- Environmental sustainability
These practices make our avocados safe to eat while being produced in a responsible way – environmentally & socially.
Meticulous planning and attention is given to the controlled application of fertilizers, nutrients and chemical inputs which are used strictly as and when required. Compared to other crops, avocado is recognised as having the lowest residue levels as tested by the USDA. In fact, avocado recently topped the ‘Clean Fifteen’ on the Environmental Working Group’s Clean Food List.
SUSTAINABILITY
We are proud to actively promote biodiversity of the flora and fauna that inhabit the areas around our orchards, protecting natural forests, waterways and wetlands, maximising the benefit to our local communities.
Our clear priority is to minimise wastage and to use natural resources as efficiently as possible. Avocado trees are perennials and so are more sustainable because they reduce soil and water erosion while sequestering more carbon. A mature avocado tree absorbs around 20 kg of C02 each year, significantly reduced carbon footprint, creating a better life for everyone.
Our Integrated Pest Management program promotes diversity and balance of natural organisms, making our avocados safe to eat, while being produced in an environmentally & socially responsible way.
State of the Art Digital Farming Techniques
for Sustainability
All agricultural activities need water. Our avocado trees thrive naturally, with abundant rainfall for most of the year. With a clear priority to minimize wastage, we have implemented state-of-the-art digital farming technology to scientifically monitor our soil, trees and weather to calculate precisely how much water is required and when. In case of an additional water requirement, we draw from precious natural water bodies and use this resource as efficiently as possible.
Unlike crops that need to be replanted every year, avocado trees are perennials. And so are more sustainable because they reduce soil and water erosion as well as sequestering more carbon. Indeed, a mature avocado tree absorbs around 20 kg of C02 each year.
COMMUNITY
Lack of basic infrastructure, surrounding our farm, has been identified as the key constraint to local development. Our primary focus has since been to develop the infrastructure for the local community.
In line with this vision, we have successfully completed the grid connection for mains electricity and are now working on all-weather road and bridge links to the national road network.
In a much-needed boost to local employment prospects, we expect to create around 400 permanent and 800 seasonal jobs, including over 250 jobs for women, while imparting training to uplift the local skill pool.
In addition to the above, several other community projects are in the pipeline.
Local Employment through Brick Making
To support local employment and community development, we have initiated a cooperative brick-making project in collaboration with neighboring villages. As part of this effort, we have procured five clay block manufacturing machines, enabling local residents to participate in production. The clay blocks will be utilized in NAL’s ongoing infrastructure projects, ensuring that community involvement directly contributes to regional development. This initiative is one of several community projects in the pipeline, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
