NUSFAZ concerned with farmers supplying poor quality onions

The Nation Union of Small-Scale Farmers in Zambia is concerned that some local farmers are supplying poor quality of onion to chain stores because they lack adequate knowledge on how to cultivate good quality onions.

NUSFAZ programs officer Ebony Lolozhi tells Q news that the biggest challenge that farmers in the country have continued to face is lack of proper information on crop cultivation, a situation that has affected the quality of most produce of various farm products.

Mr. Lolozhi says the association has for the long time been advocating for the ministry of agriculture to roll out methods that will orient farmers on how to go about cultivating various crops, a call he says has not been responded to by government.

He since stressed the need for government to urgently engage the relevant organizations and educate farmers on crop cultivation if the country’s agriculture sector is to fully penetrate both the local and international markets with various farm products.

Meanwhile, The Cross Border Network Africa has embarked on an out-grower scheme for onion farmers in the country that has the potential to create up to forty thousand jobs by 2023.

Network Chairman General Bernard Sikunyongana says the country will also not need to import a single crop next year once the scheme takes route.