Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lusaka markets closure have affected farmers-Zimba

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Jervis Zimba
Jervis Zimba

The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) says the outbreak of cholera in Lusaka and subsequent closure of the Soweto market has had a devastating effect on farmers.

ZNFU president Jevis Zimba said there has been huge quantities of fresh produce going to waste due to lack of alternative markets where farmers could offload their commodities.

He said ZNFU has since partnered with government to find a solution as to where farmers would conduct wholesale trade for fresh produce so that agriculture does not suffer in the wake of the deadly epidemic.

Mr. Zimba said a committee has since been set up to find space where farmers would conduct agro-wholesale trade.

He noted that farmers will be communicated to once final logistics for the agro-wholesale trading area have been finalised, taking into account habitability and sanitation of the area.

Mr. Zimba has however called on farmers to exercise patience as the matter was being resolved.

He assured that all concerned stakeholders are promptly attending to the matter to ensure that farmers are not inconvenienced further.

He has since thanked government for responding swiftly to the concerns raised by the agro farmers.

And Minister of Local Government has confirmed that his ministry was working with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) to find land where farmers will be selling their vegetables at a wholesale price.

Mr. Mwale said this is to enable Lusaka residents to access fruits and vegetables.

10 COMMENTS

  1. Hey Bwana Zimba (possible brother of Rupiah Banda? ) what about the precious lives wasted by cholera? Money is NOT more important than human lives.

  2. YAH MR ZIMBA IS BUSY CRYING FOR FARMERS WHAT OF LIFE LOST THROUGH CHOLERA, U NEED TO DONATE CHOLERA CLEANING MATERIALS NOT VA FRESH PRODUCE DO ZAMBIANS EVEN BUY AND EAT FRUITS ? ITS ONLY MANGO THEY BUY

    • This is really an extremely stupid statement from Mr. Zimba at this critical time. Better to just keep quiet and attend to your farmers as we focus to the serious problem at hand. I have not heard anybody complain about lhaving trouble finding fresh produce..

  3. Mr Zimba is an ***** like Kanyama. This is not time for talking about farmers. We trying to fight cholara. Get real fake man.

  4. Most Lusaka residents do eat tomatoes,green maize, rape, cabbage etc

    Close the supply of these vegetables and Lusaka will collapse.

    Farmer brings his tomatoes to Soweto. Marketeers buy the tomatoes and go and re-sell in every corner of the compounds.

    Close Soweto and tbe entire system collapses.

    Farmers who have nurtured their crops face ruin since their is no outlet to sell them, and it will just lead to “smuggling”

    Let Zimba and grz counterparts provide an alternate venue where incoming produce is monitored and hygiene standards are enforced

    Simply telling Zimba to shut up is not in anybodys interest

  5. Mr Zimba, this a wake up. …don’t trade in filthy environment. Form market committees to be in charge of market place cleanness. Don’t just be carried away by good business without paying attention to the surroundings.

  6. Zimba , also look at these chickens being sold at 4 weeks and check them for presence chemicals that enhance growth otherwise we shall have giants at tender age.

  7. Mr Zimba
    Start asking your farmers to contribute towards development of a proper Market instead of complaining they making the money selling their commodities yet in unhygienic conditions which means they are to blame for the Cholera outbreak.
    Development of the markets should work with the private Agri Sector start giving back and stop depending on a Government that doesn’t have the capacity and is full of lining their own pockets .

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