Zambia, Africa's largest copper producer, wants to diversify its economy and has been inviting local and foreign investors to put money into agriculture. Only 10% of its arable land is being farmed.
Roedolf Steenkamp, Astral's managing director, said yesterday: ''The development is another step in Astral's business plan to strategically focus expansion in a responsible and cautious way outside the borders of South Africa."
He said the hatchery and breeder farm would initially produce 120000 day-old chicks a week but could hatch up to a million as demand for broilers in the region increased.
He said Zambia was strategically positioned to service the rest of southern Africa.
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