By Jane Chanda
Zambian Fruit and Vegetable Traders Association president Benard Sikunyongana has disclosed that tomato farmers are struggling due to severe price fluctuations.
And Sikunyongana said the government must intervene to save the struggling fruits and vegetables industry.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Revelation, Sikunyongana said the perishable nature of tomatoes exacerbated the problem, leaving farmers with no option but to sell at distressed prices.
“In January and February, tomato was selling for up to K800 per box; now it’s dropped to K50. Farmers won’t make a profit until prices exceed K100 per box,” he said.
“We can’t have farmers selling at a loss of K50; we need to help them.”
He said tomato farmers were bearing the brunt of the struggles, suffering the most among all fruit and vegetable farmers.
Sikunyongana said there was an urgent need for the government intervention to prevent a mass exodus of farmers and ensure consistent production.
To address this issue, he proposed the establishment of a tomato paste factory, which would provide a much-needed solution.
“We want the Ministry of Agriculture to take keen interest in supporting our farmers. Irrigation systems, market interventions, and value addition are key to saving Zambia’s fruit and vegetable industry,” he said.
He however, noted that onion farmers, on the other hand, were better off due to the crop’s longer shelf life.
“We can keep onions up to November, but tomatoes are rotting in the fields. We can’t wait; we have to bring them to market.” Sikunyongana said .
Sikunyongana cited animal disease outbreaks, where government intervention saved livestock, maintaining population and ensuring long-term food security, adding that the same approach could be used.
Sikunyongana further expressed concern about the severe impact of inflation, currently at 15.6 percent, on farmers.
The president also commended the Ministry of Agriculture’s initiative to establish an irrigation program, hailing its potential to boost crop production, particularly for potatoes, which were currently scarce.
He said the swift implementation was crucial to provide farmers with much-needed irrigation systems, enabling them to capitalize on this opportunity.
