Farmers in Mzimba District bemoan lack of markets

 Farmers in Mzimba have bemoaned lack of markets in the district for their produce, saying the situation leaves them vulnerable to vendors who buy their produce for a song.

They expressed the sentiments on Friday during an agribusiness meeting between farmers and duty-bearers organised by Mzimba South Agriculture Office.

In an interview, Clement Moyo, a member of Chindindidi Cooperative from Traditional Authority (T/A) Chindi, said vendors buy their farm produce at low prices, making it difficult to realise profit.

He said: “We grow different crops such as maize, groundnuts and beans, but we sell them at a give-away price to vendors. The situation would be different if we had more markets.

“I appeal to the agriculture office to help us find better markets.”

Another farmer, Phillip Banda from Unyolo in T/A Khosolo, said they produce tomatoes, onions and Irish potato, but due to lack of markets, they fail to make profits.

Mzimba district chief agriculture officer Raphael Mshali said they organised the meeting to hear challenges that farmers face in the district.

He urged farmers to form cooperatives and clubs and practise contact farming to benefit from their agribusinesses.

Said Mshali: “Lack of markets is a long-standing issue and that is why we appeal to farmers to form cooperatives and clubs and do contact farming.

“As a cooperative, it is easy to find markets and bargain for better prices.”

He said his office organises agriculture fairs where farmers showcase their produce to different buyers