Story by Providence Maraneli
WITH the adverse effects of climate change being felt across Sub-Saharan Africa, calls for sustainable utilisation of natural resources are growing louder and as such, companies are employing organic methods to build resilience among communities.
When one gets to Pezulu abattoir in Shangani, Insiza district and finds workers busy driving the blood, hides and other waste from the slaughterhouse into the drains, they would be forgiven to think that it is just a routine cleaning exercise.
However, it is a sustainable utilisation of the waste where all the unwanted products are converted into organic fertiliser through sifting and composting.
“We take the waste from the slaughterhouse into a tank and sift the water, and we pump the water into the bowser. We use the water to irrigate the pecans and the water has nutrients for the trees. We take the solid waste which includes hides, and dung and make composts which we then use as fertiliser in the pecan trees,” said Mr Lovemore Ncube.
Pezulu Estates, which is one of the biggest pecan producers in Matabeleland South Province is utilising the solid waste to promote organic production of the valuable nuts.
“We are trying to utilise the resources that we have whereby the liquid goes through the separators and the solids are being composted and we are trying to come up with a quality organic fertiliser that is suitable for pecans,” said Pezulu Abattoir Manager, Mr Terry Duffin.
