The Sunday Mail
Enacy Mapakame – Business Reporter
SALES of agricultural commodities at the country’s biggest fresh produce market, Mbare Musika, dropped 12,3 percent to US$1,07 million in the three months to July as the winter season took its toll on production.
Potatoes were the biggest seller at Mbare Musika during the period under review.
Mbare Musika consists of three markets: the farmers’ market, which is the biggest; the wholesale market and the retail market.
The current figures are from the wholesalers, those who buy directly from the farmers.
Revenues at the farmers’ market topped US$1 million in May.
Data released last week by Knowledge Transfer Africa (KTA), a local agro knowledge-based organisation that closely monitors trade at major fresh produce markets in Zimbabwe, shows revenue from the wholesale division fluctuating between April and July.
Only US$813 000 worth of produce was sold at the wholesale market in April, but the figure rose 50 percent to US$1,2 million in May after the average price for delivered potatoes increased.
Revenue largely remained flat in June and July due to a decline in potato prices.
The average price for a tonne of potatoes rose 10 percent to US$733 in May from US$666 a month earlier. The price was flat at US$666 in June and July.
In May, potatoes made up 48 percent of total revenues at the wholesale market, 43 percent in June, and 40 percent in July.
Potatoes raked in US$426 000 from the sale of 639 tonnes in July followed by onions at US$264 600.
In the fruits category, bananas topped the list with 259 tonnes supplied valued at US$201 000, while cucumbers were the least contributor with seven tonnes worth US$4 900 supplied.
Knowledge Transfer Africa says the figures could actually be much higher had there been proper and adequate market research done to educate farmers on their market needs and wants.
“Supply could be much higher in terms of volume and variety if market development is prioritised. Unfortunately in Zimbabwe and other developing countries, informal agriculture markets are considered a domain of those who have failed in formal education systems.
“By leaving the market in unprofessional hands, developing countries are losing important agriculture resources.
“Due to inadequate attention to markets, over production regularly alternates with under production, leading to unsustainable agriculture.
“An agro-based economy can only be transformed through a well-planned agriculture system starting from the market (demand side),” KTA said in the report.
Most of the produce came from Mashonaland Central Province, while Masvingo Province anchored the list.
Of the July trades, South Africa accounted for 24 percent of supplies, mainly dry onions.
The southern neighbour also supplied 34 tonnes of apples worth US$28 000, as domestic production failed to meet both onion and apple demand.
Local farmers produce only 5 000 to 6 000 tonnes of apples against the annual consumption of 20 000 tonnes.
“Investment in onion drying will increase production as well as lock significant foreign currency within Zimbabwe,” said KTA.
Informal agriculture markets have become hubs of creativity and innovation, leading to new norms and values following the land redistribution exercise.
The sector has transformed livelihoods, contributing significantly to rural economies.
Yet, lack of information easily hurts the value chains.
Markets like Mbare, Kudzanai in Gweru, Sakubva in Mutare, Malaleni in Bulawayo and Njanji in Masvingo still have a long way to go in meeting the standards of regional markets like the Johannesburg market that have storage facilities and readily available information for both farmers and traders.
Knowledge Transfer Africa maintains commonly produced knowledge could be the missing link in the sector.
The association urged locals to rely on its home-grown solutions based on knowledge attained locally.
Over reliance on foreign concepts may lead to undesirable compromise through external pressure.
“Only if knowledge is produced commonly will there be a chance of efficiency, resilience and sustainability.
“Without a stable knowledge base, developing countries are exposed to external agendas.
“According to farmers and traders, our starting point is organising agriculture knowledge from the market point,” explained KTA in the report.
