Community Outreach & Sustainable Farming

Sustainability & CSR

Rooted in Community: Our Commitment to Matabeleland

At Balu, we believe that large-scale agricultural success must be shared to be sustainable. Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives are designed to create a “halo effect” of prosperity, offering extensive employment opportunities and technical empowerment to the local community in Matabeleland North. We are not just farming land; we are growing a regional economy.

Pecan Out-Grower Program

We are extending the “Pecan Story” beyond the borders of our estate to empower local smallholder farmers.

Water & Resource Access: We assist smallholders who have access to water in establishing their own small-scale pecan plantations.
Long-Term Wealth Creation: By providing high-quality plant material and technical expertise, we enable local families to tap into the high-value global nut market.
Scale & Impact: Our vision for 2030 includes seeing 100 hectares of small-scale pecan plantations under contract, creating a robust, distributed supply chain that benefits everyone.

The Cattle Business Centre

Balu is proud to host a transformative Cattle Business Centre (CBC), a project initiated to modernise local livestock management.

EU Partnership: This initiative is proudly funded by the European Union (EU) through the ZAGP-BEST (Zimbabwe Agricultural Growth Programme - Beef Enterprise Strengthening and Transformation) program.
Professional Training: We provide cattle management assistance, bridging the gap between traditional methods and modern commercial standards.
Market Access: The CBC serves as a vital marketing center, ensuring local farmers receive fair value for their livestock through organised sales and transparent pricing.

Community Grazing & Shared Infrastructure

Infrastructure at Balu is built to serve more than just our internal requirements. We recognise that access to quality grazing is the biggest challenge for regional cattle producers.

Dedicated 50ha Community Pivot: We have installed a specialized 50-hectare center pivot dedicated entirely to the community.
Nutritional Security: This area is planted with high-quality grass species specifically chosen for cattle grazing, ensuring that even during dry seasons, local herds have access to nutrient-dense fodder.
Managed Success: The grazing initiative is professionally managed by the Balu Pecan and Livestock team to ensure the longevity and health of the pastures for all users.

Economic & Employment Impact

The Balu project is poised to become one of the largest employers in the region. By transitioning from traditional dry-land farming to intensive, high-value irrigation, we are creating year-round jobs and professionalising the local agricultural workforce.