Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has noted with concern reports suggesting that the local onions have a short shelf life and consumers do not like them.
ZNFU Media and Public Relations Officer, Calvin Kaleyi tells QTV news in an interview that the major issue has been dryers which he says some large scale farmers have started working towards procuring.
Mr Kaleyi says currently there is only one farmer who owns a dryer.
He has noted the need to start looking at making investments in small scale farmers by way of empowering cooperatives using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which they can apply for and start buying these dyers.
Mr Kaleyi notes that the shelf life of the local onions will only be addressed once deliberate investment is made in cooperatives.
He says the onion is already of high quality and once dried in drying machines, it will be of high grade.