TODAY we look at the importance of the small-scale farmers to the general economy of any country, including Zambia’s.
Zambia has been dependent on copper as a main source of revenue, since independence and at one time the Government owned the mines, while now they are in the hands of the private sector but the dependence-syndrome has continued.
Imagine if this syndrome falls away and the country starts looking elsewhere for major source of income. The status of Zambia being considered as a lower middle-income country will be change.
It is without doubt that the country is striving to identify the alternative income earner which could rank next to copper and this is seen in strides in supporting tourism and agricultural sectors.
The question that ought to be asked is whether the stride is near to the answer the country is looking for.
Therefore, small-scale farming is one of the areas in which the Government should concentrate to boost our agricultural sector and hence contribute to the general
economic improvement.
Small-scale farmers are small business people who have taken the risk of engaging in farming of cash crops and animal husbandry for selling to gain incomes.
They are able to send their children to school, buy assets to improve their livelihood, improve their food diet just like any other small business entity involved in other business ventures.
Maize, groundnuts, rice, tomatoes, cabbages, cassava and bananas are some of the cash crops that small scale farmers in this country are involved in.
Others are involved in rearing chickens, cattle, pigs to mention but a few.
The demonstration of this business involvement by small-scale farmers is observed by the general market arrangement, especially seen at the Soweto market here in Lusaka which is seen as centre-stage for distribution networks.
Wheelbarrows from Soweto market carrying vegetables are wheeled around to various townships as part of transport distribution for retail stations.
This is seen as an effort by the small-scale farmers to feed the nation in that fashion.
However, the point here is that small-scale farmers could be the engine to propel the agricultural sector if the government renders maximum technical, marketing and financial support to what they do.
The Government’s Farmers Input Support Progamme (FISP) targeting the small-scale farmers involved in growing maize is one way to encourage them to attain levels of adequate stocks and contributes towards the sustenance of the national food basket.
However, it is also important that the government looks beyond this measure to encourage small-scale farmers engaged in other cash crops such as rice, cassava, sweet and Irish potatoes etc.
It is important that the government, through its agricultural research programmes, comes up with strategy to identify the soils suitable to grow these cash crops and direct the small-scale farmers to engage on fulltime farming by ensuring that technical and financial support is given to them.
Identifying of market support for these cash crops is one area the government will be able to ensure that small-scale farmers are assisted.
For example, if this country can encourage small-scale farmers to grow rice on the large-scale and be able to satisfy the local market then the extra production can be targeted for export or processed to ensure value addition.
We should embark on the long-term project that can see results in years to come other than look at short-term ones that expect immediate results.
In Malawi, the late founding President Kamunzu Banda started a project of tree planting and today Malawi is self-sufficient in trees.
We should not look at ourselves when we embark on long-term projects but look at generations to come as beneficiaries.
Since this country is not yet industrialised we should ensure that we empower the small-scale farmers who have demonstrated that they can produce agriculture products but lack the technical and financial support to move to the next level.
When we are self-sufficient in these agricultural products then we move to the next step of adding value to them.
Zambia has shining examples in Zambia Sugar Company, Sylva Catering and Zambia Prisons Service to mention but a few entities that are adding value to locally obtained materials.
ZAMBEEF Products is another company that is adding value to locally obtained materials and is supporting small-scale farmers in Zambia and beyond by buying cattle and other products from them.
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