Our Locations in Africa
Our subsidiaries in Africa are located in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia.
Click on a subsidiary company logo below to get to the country website.
Home / Our Story
Our Story
Our History
Operating in Tanzania since 1968, Balton Tanzania has been meeting the needs of farmers and enterprises in developing relevant and up to date solutions in Agribusiness as well as technology and innovation. We are a private limited company and a subsidiary of Balton CP which is owned by CP Holdings Limited, a British company with international presence across a number of territories namely the United Kingdom, Central and Western Europe as well as Sub-Saharan Africa. The territories covered in sub Saharan Africa are Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
We pride ourselves in understanding the full spectrum of agribusiness because of our holistic approach to farming through our business divisions namely seeds, chemicals and fertilizers, greenhouse and irrigation. We view agricultural sustainability from the perspective of a kitchen garden to hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland, and that is why we cater for the needs of both large scale and small-scale farmers. We focus on creating lasting relationships where our goal is to reduce risks and make farming a simple and rewarding venture by providing farmers with all that is needed for a successful harvest.
Through decades of partnerships with reputable world class brands, we have become the agribusiness solutions provider to farmers in Tanzania. We are also continuously working to introduce new methods of growing traditional crops, yet remaining relevant to the needs of our rural farmers with expert advice on cultivation and post-harvest solutions.
Our after sales service provides the requisite backup support that customers rely on for efficient agronomy, engineering, installation, and maintenance. This has been achieved through delivering exceptional products manufactured under strict quality control with state-of-the-art technology thus leading to our reputation of trustworthiness, quality, dependability and consistency in the market.
With the mission of serving the local farmers, our agronomists are available to provide both technical information and advice throughout the country. We are geared to assist smallholders as well as the large-scale farmers through training in agricultural skills, sustainable agricultural business and technical know-how.
Our Technology & Innovations department has continuously provided our customers with advanced technological solutions that suit their growing needs. Our expertise in designing, installing, commissioning and servicing of different systems is unmatched as it is delivered through our dedication to service delivery, real time after sale support and quality products. We have over time become the authority on technology in Tanzania due to our pioneering spirit for introducing new, cutting-edge technologies and knowledge.
Our business focus lies in the following main strategic areas:
Agribusiness
• Chemicals
• Fertilizers
• Greenhouses
• Irrigation
• Seeds
Technology & Innovation
• Security
• Communication
• Cyber Security
• Network
• Power
Our History
Operating in Tanzania since 1968, Balton Tanzania has been meeting the needs of farmers and enterprises in developing relevant and up to date solutions in Agribusiness as well as technology and innovation. We are a private limited company and a subsidiary of Balton CP which is owned by CP Holdings Limited, a British company with international presence across a number of territories namely the United Kingdom, Central and Western Europe as well as Sub-Saharan Africa. The territories covered in sub Saharan Africa are Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
We pride ourselves in understanding the full spectrum of agribusiness because of our holistic approach to farming through our business divisions namely seeds, chemicals and fertilizers, greenhouse and irrigation. We view agricultural sustainability from the perspective of a kitchen garden to hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland, and that is why we cater for the needs of both large scale and small-scale farmers. We focus on creating lasting relationships where our goal is to reduce risks and make farming a simple and rewarding venture by providing farmers with all that is needed for a successful harvest.
Through decades of partnerships with reputable world class brands, we have become the agribusiness solutions provider to farmers in Tanzania. We are also continuously working to introduce new methods of growing traditional crops, yet remaining relevant to the needs of our rural farmers with expert advice on cultivation and post-harvest solutions.
Our after sales service provides the requisite backup support that customers rely on for efficient agronomy, engineering, installation, and maintenance. This has been achieved through delivering exceptional products manufactured under strict quality control with state-of-the-art technology thus leading to our reputation of trustworthiness, quality, dependability and consistency in the market.
With the mission of serving the local farmers, our agronomists are available to provide both technical information and advice throughout the country. We are geared to assist smallholders as well as the large-scale farmers through training in agricultural skills, sustainable agricultural business and technical know-how.
Our Technology & Innovations department has continuously provided our customers with advanced technological solutions that suit their growing needs. Our expertise in designing, installing, commissioning and servicing of different systems is unmatched as it is delivered through our dedication to service delivery, real time after sale support and quality products. We have over time become the authority on technology in Tanzania due to our pioneering spirit for introducing new, cutting-edge technologies and knowledge.
Our business focus lies in the following main strategic areas:
Agribusiness
• Chemicals
• Fertilizers
• Greenhouses
• Irrigation
• Seeds
Technology & Innovation
• Security
• Communication
• Cyber Security
• Network
• Power
Our
Executive Team
Our Board is responsible for financial performance, strategic direction, major acquisitions and disposals, overall risk management, business planning as well as capital expenditure and operational budgeting.
Our Executive Team
Our Board is responsible for financial performance, strategic direction, major acquisitions and disposals, overall risk management, business planning as well as capital expenditure and operational budgeting.
Andy Baker
Group Chief Executive Officer
Andy holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Cranfield University, UK.
He joined BCP in January 2016 as Chief Excecutive Officer from G4S, where he spent four years as Regional President, Africa. Prior to this, he spent several years at DHL in addition to serving as Group COO of Altech.
Andy has 30 years’ experience in general management, having worked on four continents.
Matthew Dunne
Group Chief Operations Officer
Matt joined Balton CP in January 2020.
A Civil Engineering graduate of Bolton University, Matt holds an MBA from Durham University and has more than 20 years’ experience in senior management roles with some of the largest conglomerates in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, including the Alsayer and DAL Group operating in a number of the world’s toughest markets including Iraq, South Sudan and Saudi Arabia.
Kevin Torlage
Group Chief Financial Officer
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzberg and a Diploma in Accounting.
Kevin is a Chartered Accountant, having qualified in South Africa. He has 28 years of extensive experience in Audit, Management and Finance.
He joined BCP in 2016 from Ageis Defence Services Limited where he was the Finance Director. Prior to this, he held various executive management positions at Barloworld Handling Ltd, Bidcorp plc – London, Stemcor Limited London and Deloitte & Touche.
Our Pillars
In a bid to support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), we are aligned to three critical goals.
Environmental
Conservation
Agriculture is the backbone of Tanzania’s economy and accounts for many livelihoods across the country. However, the effects of global warming have been evident in parts of the country with the precipitating occurrence of droughts and flooding in recent years. This has resulted in threatened food security due to soil degradation and crop failure.
We embrace and take an active role to practice and educate for sustainable farming techniques. We pledge to increase the quantity and quality of our farmers’ harvest, whilst limiting the impact on the environment with aim to contribute to global food security.
Together we can achieve this through our promise of:
- Increasing our customer’s knowledge and ability to mitigate the impact of climate change through the use of innovative and modern technology that is environmentally safe.
- Improving our commitment to working with local businesses and our partners in order to protect and safeguard the environment by choosing sustainable methods of development.
- Selecting the best farming and technology solutions for our customers
while protecting the local environment, communities and nature. - Developing and providing quality hybrid seeds that are adaptable and capable of dealing with changing climatic conditions and emerging
- Encouraging the use of organic farming methods.
Technical Know How
We strive to provide timely and technologically advanced solutions that ensure growth and sustainability for farmers and businesses in Tanzania.
Motivated by our passion for empowering people, coupled with a pioneering spirit of introducing new, cutting-edge technologies and knowledge, we are proudly engaged with our customers who invest in bringing new services to communities and enriching their lives.
Our greatest asset is rooted in diverse local knowledge, and putting people and communities’ interests first and foremost. This has been demonstrated through:
- Our investment in field agronomists across the country, and their role in both our large scale and small-scale farmers’ journeys. They regularly offer their professional guidance to farmers through knowledge exchange meetings – training on new seed varieties, soil and seed preparation prior to planting, safe chemicals to use to curb crop diseases, and fertlizers for crop nutrition as well as irrigation and green housing solutions.
- Our technology and innovations business which has garnered technical expertise in the communications sector has guided and managed projects across various business sectors in the country.
Technological Advancement
We work in markets that are fast-changing and often challenging. In recent times, businesses across diverse sectors face a myriad of challenges such as lack of adequate infrastructure, climate change and insufficient information knowledge base.
In agribusiness:
- We provide innovation that boosts yields by more accurately identifying
and predicting deficiencies in the crop and the soil as well as early warnings on problems like diseases or pests. - Our automated irrigation provides efficiencies in the use of water and fertilizers, which in turn keeps production cost and food prices down.
- Our state of the art greenhouses ensure that light and temperature control are monitored to produce quality yields.
In technology and innovation :
- As we experience a rise in insecurity globally, the need to keep businesses, public places, institutions of learning and other facilities safe is of paramount importance. Our solutions offer increased worker and property safety through the provision of modern, state of the art safety equipment.
- Building management systems.
Exceptional Ethical Standards
We do everything we can to ensure that our impact on society is positive and benefits the wider community as well as the business environment in which we operate.
Our Commitment to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
- We ensure that we have complied with all applicable environmental health and safety (EHS) laws, regulations and requirements across our business activities in all countries in which we operate.
- Our selection of suppliers, business partners and contractors puts into consideration their ability to run safe and environmentally responsible operations.
Our Commitment to Anti- Slavery
- We have committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business.
Our commitment to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
- We ensure that all health and safety hazards and incidents are promptly reported and investigated and that appropriate control measures are implemented to eliminate or minimize the risk of recurrence.
Our commitment to Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR)
- We respond to emergencies swiftly and effectively with the foremost goals of preserving life, protecting the organization’s property and restoring day to day operations as quickly as possible.
- We react effectively to a major incident directly affecting the business so that it can, as is reasonably practicable, continue to provide essential services in the event of an emergency.
Environmental Conservation
Agriculture is the backbone of Tanzania’s economy and accounts for many livelihoods across the country. However, the effects of global warming have been evident in parts of the country with the precipitating occurrence of droughts and flooding in recent years. This has resulted in threatened food security due to soil degradation and crop failure.
We embrace and take an active role to practice and educate for sustainable farming techniques. We pledge to increase the quantity and quality of our farmers’ harvest, whilst limiting the impact on the environment with aim to contribute to global food security.
Together we can achieve this through our promise of:
- Increasing our customer’s knowledge and ability to mitigate the impact of climate change through the use of innovative and modern technology that is environmentally safe.
- Improving our commitment to working with local businesses and our partners in order to protect and safeguard the environment by choosing sustainable methods of development.
- Selecting the best farming and technology solutions for our customers
while protecting the local environment, communities and nature. - Developing and providing quality hybrid seeds that are adaptable and capable of dealing with changing climatic conditions and emerging
- Encouraging the use of organic farming methods.
Technical Know How
We strive to provide timely and technologically advanced solutions that ensure growth and sustainability for farmers and businesses in Tanzania.
Motivated by our passion for empowering people, coupled with a pioneering spirit of introducing new, cutting-edge technologies and knowledge, we are proudly engaged with our customers who invest in bringing new services to communities and enriching their lives.
Our greatest asset is rooted in diverse local knowledge, and putting people and communities’ interests first and foremost. This has been demonstrated through:
- Our investment in field agronomists across the country, and their role in both our large scale and small-scale farmers’ journeys. They regularly offer their professional guidance to farmers through knowledge exchange meetings – training on new seed varieties, soil and seed preparation prior to planting, safe chemicals to use to curb crop diseases, and fertlizers for crop nutrition as well as irrigation and green housing solutions.
- Our technology and innovations business which has garnered technical expertise in the communications sector has guided and managed projects across various business sectors in the country.
Technological Advancement
We work in markets that are fast-changing and often challenging. In recent times, businesses across diverse sectors face a myriad of challenges such as lack of adequate infrastructure, climate change and insufficient information knowledge base.
In agribusiness:
- We provide innovation that boosts yields by more accurately identifying
and predicting deficiencies in the crop and the soil as well as early warnings on problems like diseases or pests. - Our automated irrigation provides efficiencies in the use of water and fertilizers, which in turn keeps production cost and food prices down.
- Our state of the art greenhouses ensure that light and temperature control are monitored to produce quality yields.
In technology and innovation :
- As we experience a rise in insecurity globally, the need to keep businesses, public places, institutions of learning and other facilities safe is of paramount importance. Our solutions offer increased worker and property safety through the provision of modern, state of the art safety equipment.
- Building management systems.
Exceptional Ethical Standards
We do everything we can to ensure that our impact on society is positive and benefits the wider community as well as the business environment in which we operate.
Our Commitment to Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
- We ensure that we have complied with all applicable environmental health and safety (EHS) laws, regulations and requirements across our business activities in all countries in which we operate.
- Our selection of suppliers, business partners and contractors puts into consideration their ability to run safe and environmentally responsible operations.
Our Commitment to Anti- Slavery
- We have committed to ensuring that there is no modern slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business.
Our commitment to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
- We ensure that all health and safety hazards and incidents are promptly reported and investigated and that appropriate control measures are implemented to eliminate or minimize the risk of recurrence.
Our commitment to Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR)
- We respond to emergencies swiftly and effectively with the foremost goals of preserving life, protecting the organization’s property and restoring day to day operations as quickly as possible.
- We react effectively to a major incident directly affecting the business so that it can, as is reasonably practicable, continue to provide essential services in the event of an emergency.