Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya
The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has sought permission from the ministry of agriculture to allow for the importation of onions and potatoes into the country in anticipation of the shortage of these commodities on the market.
Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya has disclosed this in Lusaka when she met Italian Companies called Macfrut and Cermatic to discuss investment in fruits and vegetables.
Ms Siliya says the ZNFU is requesting the government to allow the importation of 400 metric tonnes of onions and 200 metric tonnes of potatoes after realizing that there is a shortage of these commodities on the market.
And Ms Siliya has urged local young farmers to learn from successes in Italy in terms of investment in fruits and vegetables.
She laments that Zambia has so many fruits and vegetables that go to waste.
The Minister notes the need to promote value addition so that the best can come out from these commodities.
And Macfrut President Renzo Piraccini says Zambia has the capacity and potential to get the best from fruits and vegetables.
Mr. Piraccini says the country should not be an importer of fruits and vegetables, but an exporter considering the potential the country has.