Saro Agro managed to carve out a niche in the agricultural industry since they mastered the art of manufacturing inexpensive, good quality products over many years.

Like any normal business, Saro started off as a small and very determined group of directors. In 1980 they launched themselves with the name, Livingstone Hardware Stores and started to sell Kirtoskar engines and hammer mills from a company in Mazabuka which closed down in 1989.

Lusaka was expanding at the time, and they moved to the capital under the new name, Saro Agri Equipment.  One of their new ventures was a workshop where they started manufacturing their own hammer mills to supply in the market they created. Besides hammer mills, they now also manufacture tractor trailers, water and diesel tanks, tank stands and a variety of other equipment. They also assemble motorcycles. “Ten people were initially employed and I joined in 1991,” Kulkarni Mahesh the Engineering Manager, says.

“In 1993, we moved to other premises opposite the Soweto market and in 1997, we changed the name to SARO Agro Industrial since we expanded to include irrigation, farm machinery and soil preparation equipment. We also started manufacturing farm trailers. In 2008, we moved to our current premises in Buyantanshi Road. Now we refer to ourselves as the SARO Group with branches in Kitwe, Mkushi, Chipata and a dealer network all over the country.”

Kulkarni knows exactly what is happening on the floor in every department. “Saro currently employs 120 workers in the workshop which covers 30 000 square metres of manufacturing and storing space. We can manufacture 15 trailers and 150 hammer mills per month or 1 500 hammer mills per year. Diesel and water tanks are manufactured on order and we can produce tank sizes from 5 000 to 80 000 litres. We manufacture our products according to ZABS standards and to the farmer’s specifications with a guarantee of six months. We currently use six to seven 27 tonne trucks of steel per year during full production!”

Japhet Mwaijibe is the Deputy Works Manager and he is involved in procurement and implementation – to make sure that the jobs get done. He is also involved in marketing and after sales services. “We use milling machines, lathes, arc and MIG welders, and plasma cutters, and we spray paint all our products with a neat finish,” he says.

Saro is one of the pioneer agricultural companies in Zambia and today they are still ready to assist where price is the determining factor. This well-known agricultural company understands the Zambian market and provides dependable products to farmers all over the spectrum.

For your one-stop farming experience, visit the Saro website at www.sarozambia.com or contact Calvin Salah at 00-260-975714426 or 00-260-211-387000-9/241477, or send him an e-mail to calvin.s@saroagri.co.zm.

Saro Agro has 29 years of experience in the manufacturing of hammer mills. Today they have the capability to manufacture 150 hammer mills per month.

Calvin Salah, Agricultural Adviser – Technical; Japhet Mwaijibe, Deputy Work Manager; and Kulkarni Mahesh, Engineering Manager, are very proud of the 80 000 litre water and fuel tanks that they are building.

Saro Agro’s workshop is a constant hive of activities. During full production they employ 120 people in the
workshop only.