The Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) in collaboration with Lusaka City Council has resolved the trade war that was looming between farmers and traders at Soweto Market regarding the trade of onion.
ZNFU President Jervis Zimba told Money FM News that at a meeting recently held to address the wrangles, it was agreed that the pricing for onion will be determined according to supply and demand or market forces, hence farmers and traders will negotiate prices.
Mr. Zimba stated that the stakeholders further resolved that Retailers and Agents selling on behalf of the farmers, will need to register with the Council and pay a levy, and will be given an official certification to keep trading at the market.
“At a meeting held on 9th June 2020 at the Lusaka Civic Centre led by His Worship the Mayor Mr. Miles Sampa and Council Directors, and ZNFU Director Commodities Ms. Maria Zaloumis, attended by onion farmers ‘representatives and traders, it was resolved that pricing for onion will be determined according to supply and demand or market forces hence farmers and traders will negotiate prices. Meaning that farmers will whole sale to the traders,” Mr. Zimba said.
Mr. Zimba said the Council working in Collaboration with ZNFU will develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the end of July, further thanking Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa and all the parties that attended the meeting for bringing about harmonious operations at Soweto Market.
“Compliance to sanitary standards will also need to be worked on in order to deter uncertified crop from unknown sources from finding its way on the market and to prevent the country from being exposed to the risk of importing crop diseases,” he stated.
Recently, a wrangle erupted between farmers and traders at Lusaka’s Soweto Market, with the latter demanding that they be middlemen rather than the farmers selling their produce directly to ordinary customers.
The traders said the presence of farmers at the market disadvantages them because the farmers sell their produce at lower prices.