By KENNEDY MUPESENI –

ZAMBIAN small-scale farmers should engage in the cultivation of quality products which should be subjected to basic value-addition processes before supplying them to chain stores in the country.
Pick n Pay Zambia general manager Andy Roberts has challenged farmers to ensure value addition to agriculture products for them to supply the chain store in the country.
Recently, the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) and the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) accused multinational chain stores of importing products from their countries of origin shunning local products.
But Mr Roberts said Pick n Pay was ready to buy from the local manufacturers and farmers if they add value to their products and produce in bulk.
“We are ready to buy almost 90 per cent from farmers and local manufacturers provided they meet the standards and supply in large quantities,” he said in an interview in Lusaka.
He said in terms of agricultural products, there were some fruits which could not be accessed in Zambia like apples due to the country’s climatic conditions which force them to resort to importation.
Mr Roberts said another challenge was that most farmers and manufacturers produce limited varieties of products making it imperative to source some products outside Zambia.
He said for example Pick n Pay stocks over 13,000 varieties of products which make it difficult to get from one source.
Mr Roberts, however, said the chain-store was working with the ZNFU with a view to signing a memorandum of understanding which will see farmers start supplying more products to Pick n Pay.
He also said the company had continued expanding its footprint in terms of branch networks due to good policy environment in the country.
“Zambia offers good business policy environment and I think that is what has contributed to the fast expansion of our retail outlets in the country,” he said.
Mr Roberts said the company had reciprocated by engaging its employees on permanent basis.