In an effort to mitigate the challenges currently being faced by tomato farmers in Zambia which which are also affecting their profits, the Agriculture Consultative Forum has urged tomato farmers to conduct market research and plan their production accordingly.
The advice comes as many tomato farmers in Zambia are struggling with low prices due to overproduction.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Agriculture Consultative Forum executive Director Masiye Nawiko emphasized the importance of farmers targeting peak periods when prices are high.
“What our farmers need to do is to do some market research and plan for a particular time of the year when the price is always high. When they are planning to grow tomatoes, they should target the peak period when the price might be high,” he advised.
“Otherwise, tomato farmers will be having the same issues where they invest a lot in the production of tomatoes, and all of a sudden, the prices come down because of too much supply on the market,” cautioned Nawiko.
Nawiko noted that farmers might have been caught off guard, hoping that tomato prices would continue to rise.
“Maybe that’s why they invested a lot in the production of tomatoes,” he said.
He reiterated that by conducting market research and planning their production, farmers can avoid the pitfalls of overproduction and maximize their returns.
Nawiko’s advice is therefore a timely reminder that farmers must be proactive in understanding market dynamics to remain competitive.
