Farmers urged to venture into mixed crops diversification

The Agricultural Technical and Professional Staff Union of Zambia (ATPSUZ) acting Secretary General Hacholi Makondo has observed that most farmers are having challenges to take up crop diversification to skyrocketing prices of some agriculture inputs.

Mr. Makondo says this has caused some of them to stick to growing crops they think are cheaper to grow despite the detrimental effects.

He also notes that some farmers also lack willingness to venture into crops as they believe their success in farming solely depends in growing the maize crop.

The ministry of agriculture as well as experts has for a long time has been urging the farming community to take diversification of the agriculture sector seriously.

However, despite the country being endowed with abundant land resources, many farmers have continued to focus on mono cropping.

And an NGO promoting the proliferation of Zambian products, Buyzed has appealed to small scale farmers and various cooperatives across the country to venture into cash crops like Tobacco,  Soya Beans, Potatoes, Wheat,  Strawberry, Pineapple, Oranges,  Avocados.

Founder Evans Ngoma says these are high value crops and generate more returns.

Mr. Ngoma says his organisation has deliberately created sector specific platforms for interactions, linkages, knowledge sharing ultimately the intent being to produce a product that satisfies the producer financially and market for intended use.

He has noted that as a country, facing numerous challenges on a daily basis ranging from high youths unemployment, high poverty levels, stretched national purse to meet ever growing demands be it in good health service provision, education facilities, road infrastructure development among others there is need for farmers to consider venture into cash crops so as to address these challenges.

Mr. Ngoma explains that, potato industry has grown in limps and bounds and that the results on the ground are proving that a more crop focused approach is an assured way of national development and job creation.