GIVE LOANS TO FRUIT AND VEGETABLE FARMERS- SIKUNYONGANA

By Arnel Chitundu

THERE is a need for the Government through the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) to give loans to farmers producing fruits and vegetables for price stabilization, the Zambia Fruit and Vegetable Traders Association has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Association President Bernard Sikunyongana disclosed that there had been a shortage of tomatoes and onions on the market for three months now as tomatoes were trading above K380 to K400 per box.

“The supply is not sufficient as both onion and tomatoes are in short supply because the country experienced low rainfall which has led to most fields drying up. Most dams and rivers are now dry up, making it hard for farmers to produce tomatoes and onions adequately,” Mr. Sikunyongana said.

He explained that most people with boreholes were the ones supplying tomatoes and onions as they were not gravely affected.

“The gap is big on those who have run out of water through rivers and dams,” he said.

He stated that the association always requested for borders to be opened to help mitigate prices adding that the commodities had run out because most suppliers had rivers which had unfortunately dried up.

“The lasting solution to the shortage in supply of fruits and vegetables on the market is full provision of loans to traders,” he emphasized.

He said the whole purpose of doing so was because farmers were capable of stabilizing supply of the commodities.