United fertilizers company LTD.
Official distributor of Uralchem and Uralkali
mineral fertilizers in Africa
Zambia

Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in south-central Africa. At 752,614 sq km (290,586 sq mi) it is the 39th-largest country in the world, slightly smaller than Chile. It is inhabited by over 16 million people.

Agriculture
Semi-arid Region I
includes areas of southern, eastern and western Zambia: Zambia's valleys at 300-800 m altitude mostly lie in Region 1. Mean annual rainfall in Region I ranges from 600 to 800 mm. The growing season is relatively short (80-120 days) and risky for crop production. Region I contains a variety of soil types, ranging from slightly acidic loamy and clayey soils with loam topsoil, to acidic sandy soils. Characteristics of these soils which have significant constraints for crop production, include: erosion, limited soil depth in hilly and escarpment areas, poor physical properties that make it difficult to till especially on cracking clay soils, crusting, and low water holding capacities in sandy soils.
Region II
includes much of central Zambia, with most of Central, Southern, Eastern and Lusaka provinces. It contains the most fertile soils and most of the country's commercial farms. Annual rainfall in Region II averages 800-1000 mm, and the growing season is 100-140 days long. The most common soils in Region II are red to brown clayey to loamy soil types that are moderately to strongly leached. Physical characteristics of the soils that affect crop production, include low water holding capacity, shallow rooting depth, and top soils prone to rapid deterioration and erosion. These soils also have low nutrient reserves and retention capacity, are acid, have low organic matter and nitrogen content, and are phosphorus-deficient.
Region III
High-rainfall area which lies in a band across northern Zambia, including the Northern Luapula Copper belt, Northwestern provinces and some parts of the Central province. This region receives over 1000 mm of precipitation each year, and the growing season ranges from 120-150 days. Soils in Region III are highly weathered and leached, and characterized by extreme acidity. Consequently, the soils have few nutrients available for plant growth, and are high in exchangeable aluminum and manganese, both of which are toxic to most crops unless soils are limed to increase pH.

The country’s staple crop and most cultivated is corn (maize). The sector is a main source of income and employment for the majority of Zambians. The agricultural sector in Zambia supports livelihoods of 85% of the population. The share of employment in agriculture is 53.28 %.

Zambia is divided into three major agro-ecological regions (Regions I , II and III), which are primarily based on rainfall amount but also incorporate soils and other climatic characteristics.

Cassava
Rice
Sunflower
Cashew
Sorghum
Tea
Coffee
Soy
Tobacco
Cotton
Sugar Cane
Millet
Oil palm
Pineapples
Potatoes
Climate

The climate is favorable to agriculture: Zambia’s climate is classified as mostly tropical, with small parts of its territory classified as semi-arid. Average temperatures are comprised between 17,5 and 25,5 C° while average rainfalls are comprised between 0 and 200 mm per month, during the 2 rainy and dry seasons.

Weather information
Agricultural crops

Zambia's major export crops include tobacco (98 per cent of which is exported), cotton, tea and coffee. Crops for domestic consumption – tobacco, maize, sugar. Other major crops include: cotton, soybeans, groundnuts, paprika, sorghum, wheat, rice, sunflower seeds, coffee, as well as sugar, fruits, other vegetables and flowers. Manioc, sweet potatoes and fruits are grown for domestic consumption. Sugar – for domestic and external.

Mineral fertilizers