By BRIAN HATYOKA? –

THE Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) in Southern and Western provinces has urged farmers to form groups and collectively market their products to mitigate the cost of transport and other expenses.
ZNFU Region ‘A’ female farmers’ representative, Jenifer Handoondo, said it was important for farmers to consider coming together in groups for easy marketing of their produce unlike working as individuals.
Ms Handoondo said marketing of agricultural products was currently competitive and hence farmers could only successfully penetrate the market if they sold their products as groups.
She represents female farmers from Sinazongwe, Choma, Kalomo, Livingstone, Kazungula and Sesheke.
She was speaking in an interview last week when Germany Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture Christian Schmidt and his delegation visited farmers in Jack Mwanampapa village in Senior Chief Mukuni’s chiefdom in Kazungula District of Southern Province.?She said it would be easier for farmers to supply big orders from chain stores and other buyers if they were in groups.
She also asked Government to work hand in hand with ZNFU by allocating an annual budgetary support to the Union.
“It is very difficult for Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock staff to come here in the bush to meet farmers due to transport challenges.
“Therefore, it is very important for Government to work with organisations like ZNFU which deals with farmers directly,” she said.
Jack Mwanampapa Village headman, Boniface Mulengo, said the biggest problem farmers were facing in the area was lack of water.
Mr Mulengo said most farmers survived on irrigated agriculture due to poor rainfall patterns.