ZambiaFresh Lusaka Market brings hope to farmers: small-scale farmers have no influence on market pricing systems

A VISIT to any of the sprawling informal fresh produce markets in Zambia reveals a harsh reality of the exploitation that small-scale farmers are subjected to.

This is chiefly attributable to marketing systems that do not give the farmer a say on the value of their products.

Here, Adrian Mweemba, 69, is a small scale farmer who grows vegetables in Livingstone’s Sinde village.

He too hasn’t had it easy.

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, he, in the company of his two helpers, brings his vegetables to Livingstone’s Libuyu and Dambwa Central Markets for sale.

Even if he does it, he says it doesn’t add up. He says exploitative intermediaries at various levels of marketing make it difficult for small-scale farmers such as himself to free themselves from the shackles of poverty.

“Firstly, I have to book a light truck to bring these vegetables [tomatoes, rape, egg plants, green beans, green maize and cabbage] here. That, on its own is an expensive venture. However, I do it because I get to sell in large quantities and I to some extent depend on the turnover,” he says.

He continues: “If I can complain about such things, take for instance a farmer that embarks on a trip from Kafue to take their produce to Soweto market in Lusaka, they deal with a lot of things. They have to pay toll fees at a toll plaza, after which the vehicle used for transportation will be charged upon arrival at the market. Additionally, the farmer will be required to pay highly variable, unregulated and unnegotiated fees after their produce is sold.”

He says the farmers also have no influence on the market pricing systems, with little to no transparency and zero fair-market real price discovery system.

“At the end of the day, the farmer is unable to recoup the expenses and charges incurred at various stages of marketing. These are some of the challenges we face,” says Mr Mweemba, a retired teacher.

With this gloomy picture, a Zambian conglomerate, the Savenda Group, has ventured into a project aimed at ensuring that farmers get the full value of their products.

“If you focus on the farmers, everybody wins. If you contrast that with the existing system in Zambia, it is currently ‘Farmers Last’. Farmers get scraps because of multiple layers of intermediaries and the lack of a formal market trading system offering transparency,” says Sean Moolenschot, the chief executive officer of Savenda Capital.

Mr Moolenschot says there are numerous obstacles that small-scale farmers face from the point of production, food safety, storage, and transport to market.

“The current system exploits the farmers. There is no traceability, food safety, or hygienic trading conditions. There’s also the issue of a system of unregulated agents and no price discovery. That is why small-scale farmers remain extremely poor,” he laments. “Women who sell in markets and on the streets are exposed to harsh weather conditions including extreme heat and rain as they sell their merchandise. So, we asked ourselves: How can we intervene in this system to make it better?”

Savenda Group has resolved to come up with the ZambiaFresh Lusaka Market, which is set to be Africa’s first commission-agent and formal fresh produce market outside of South Africa.

Occupying 11 hectares of land in the Lusaka South multi facility economic zone, the ZambiaFresh Lusaka Market will be part of a larger food hub concept, consisting of a fresh produce market and retail shopping area offering complimentary fresh, frozen and dried food products and services.

There will also be a state-of-the art aeroponics facility growing world-class quality salad ingredients, available for purchase in the market facility.

Trading under the mantra ‘Farmers First’, the market, which will be cashless, is to begin operations this year.

Mr Moolenschot says the project will provide a one-stop-shop experience in which all stakeholders stand to gain, with small-scale farmers finally being given the opportunity to reap the fruits of their labour.

The ZambiaFresh Market is a culmination of a study that the Savenda Group undertook to provide solutions to the challenges that small-scale farmers face.

It is also a response to a study that was commissioned in 2018 by Musika Development Initiative and Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI).

The feasibility study looked into the formal horticultural fresh fruits market, seeking the best way of transforming the informal horticultural market into a formal one.

The emphatic conclusion of the study was that the most appropriate formal market system for Zambia is the commission-agent system.

Mr Moolenschot says the system is uniquely African, having been developed out of the small-scale supplier base that existed in South Africa over 120 years ago. 

“It is this system that was instrumental in transforming fragmented small-scale growers into thriving commercial farmers and born out of an environment similar to Zambia. The reason why the South African system is successful is that it has transformed small-scale farmers into successful commercial businesses and we believe that this can also be achieved in Zambia,” he emphasises.

Sean Moolenschot

Transforming a fragmented and informal marketing system into a formal one has its own challenges.

These include ensuring acceptable standards, food safety and strict adherence to prescribed market trading rules.

To lead by example in the quality of horticultural crops to be supplied to the ZambiaFresh Lusaka Market, the Savenda Group has set up Palabana Farm.

The farm will also double as a training centre for small-scale farmers to acquaint them with the standards they will be required to meet in order for them to supply to the ZambiaFresh Lusaka Market.

“At Palabana Farm, we will be producing what people eat everyday like sweet potatoes and vegetables in a small-scale manner. We’ll be looking to encounter problems that farmers encounter every day. Then we can show them how to overcome if we do it ourselves,” he explains.

ZAMBIAFresh has also added poultry operations to Palabana Farm with the addition of two chicken houses accommodating 25,000 hens in lay, producing over 800 trays of eggs per day. Efforts are afoot to convert the farm-grown feed production to organic feed which will enable egg production to be accredited and certified organic.

The further benefit of this is that the chicken manure harvested daily will also be organic and used as natural organic fertilizer in the horticultural production. This means Palabana Farm will soon be producing organic fresh produce.

“We will be inviting farmers in big batches and train them on how to change farming methods so that they are accepted to sell in big shops. Only when they have been through this will they be allowed to sell at our market,” says Mr Moolenschot.

At the market, farmers will be represented by Savenda-approved agents who will need to have deep product knowledge and market conditions.

“The agent’s job will be to get the best price. The commission will be regulated; not an environment where agents exploit the farmers,” he reassures.

The manner in which the products are produced, stored, transported and how safe they are for human consumption will be critical, hence the need for a monitoring mechanism.

To ensure traceability, Savenda Group has engaged various strategic partners including RippleNami, a California-based company with the visualization platform that enables enterprises to visually see products from the time they leave the farm.

The ZambiaFresh Lusaka Market will also apply the HACCP concept, an internationally recognised system for reducing the risk of safety hazards in food.

A HACCP system requires that potential hazards are identified and controlled at specific points in the process.

Mr Moolenschot says quality will be the hallmark of the market which will aim at attracting buyers not only from within Zambia but also from the central and southern African regions with a combined population of about 200 million people.

He expresses regret that despite small-scale farmers, estimated to be around three million, doing their best to produce quality products, the benefits are negligible.

“Zambian farmers are great farmers. They produce fantastic quality product,” says Mr Moolenschot.

ZambiaFresh Lusaka Market sits on 11 hectares of land.

However, he adds that it is the informal marketing system that lets them down, and there is no financial reward system for producing comparatively higher quality.

“In terms of quality of production, we are, therefore, starting from a high base, and with ZAMBIAFresh Lusaka Market, we will take the fresh produce sector from good to great. If we can positively affect the lives of three million people and their families, if we can transform their lives and help them develop into commercial farmers, and it is sustainable. What a wonderful thing to do!” he says.

The National Union for Small Scale Farmers of Zambia (NUSFAZ) has also acknowledged the challenges noted by Savenda.

NUSFAZ acting executive director Noel Simukonde acknowledges that small scale farmers, especially those dealing in horticultural produce suffer the most at the hands of many compounding factors.

“Many small scale farmers are into horticulture because it gives them an income. But the challenge mostly is on the marketing component which doesn’t support the farmer. Most of these products are consumables whose shelf life is limited so they end up being exploited in the long run,” he says.

In mitigating the factors, Mr Simukonde says the union is also embarking on mechanisms aimed at flipping the tables.

“We have partnered with a firm called TBK Consultants and developed an application that will enable our members to sell their produce online. That way, the agents and middle men will be cut off and give more powers to the farmer,” he says.

Mr Simukonde is also advising farmers to join unions so that they connect with other farmers to learn best farming and marketing practices that will get them out of poverty.

DEC educates on importance of family role in anti-drug campaign

AS the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) battles drug and substance abuse among the youth, a healthy family environment has been identified as an important tool in deterring adolescents from going astray.

It has been proven that homes in which children are adequately parented can play a big role in dissuading youths from falling prey to social vices.

According to the DEC, Southern Province is among the regions that are affected by high levels of drug and alcohol abuse among adolescents.

For this reason, the DEC in Livingstone has embarked on an exercise to sensitise parents on good parenting skills in an effort to stop drug and substance abuse among youths through improved and strengthened family ties.

Twenty-seven parents and guardians from Maramba township, whose Malota and Zecco compounds are notorious for drug and substance abuse, were recently trained under this programme.

Charles Makumeli, a father of four, who is also keeping five grandchildren, is one of those people that underwent training.

Mr Makumeli is happy to have been selected for the training because he believes it will benefit him and children under his care.

“Malota is a very notorious place and learning these parenting skills will most definitely help me raise my children in a very good way,” he says.

Speaking at the launch of the Second Family and Parenting Skills Training at Shungu Primary and Secondary School in Maramba township here recently, DEC Southern Province regional commander Elizabeth Mumba said improving parent and child relations is a major goal of any drug abuse prevention and intervention programme.

Ms Mumba said the family environment influences every aspect of a child's life. "Abuse of alcohol and other drugs have continued to be a threat to our nation which if left unchecked can cause serious health, social and economic problems," she said.

Youths as well as adults in Zambia are vulnerable to unhealthy behaviours which include alcohol and drug abuse. These vices thrive on easy access to the substances, idleness due to poor opportunities for education, poverty, a violent environment and having the financial clout to afford the substances, some of which are costly.

“Family attachment, supervision, and family norms are strategies and pathways that protect children and youth from drug use,” said Ms Mumba.

She added: “Because the family environment influences every aspect of a child’s life, improving parent-child relations should be a major way of any prevention and intervention programme, hence this training.”

The first ‘Family and Parenting Skills Training’ programme in the district was launched at Dambwa United Church of Zambia (UCZ) where 20 parents were trained.

Under the programme, parents and guardians are taught better ways of communicating with their children in order to prevent alcohol and drug abuse.

Ms Mumba interacting with the participants.

"We expect children to be free with their parents in communicating issues that may be affecting them and possibly lead to the abuse of alcohol and other drugs," she said.

Acting DEC Livingstone officer in charge Tasila Makala said the eight week training programme will also help parents and guardians in identifying common behaviours in children involved in substance abuse.

"It will also give the parents the skills needed to deal with the said behaviours. We are hopeful that it will yield the intended results," she said.

In June last year, the DEC conducted a raid dubbed ‘Chalo Bantu’ in Malota and arrested over 100 people for drug-related offences.

Out of those arrested, it was later discovered that three were former pupils of Shungu Primary and Secondary school.

It is for this reason that school head teacher Orgency Malumbe is happy with the training programme.

He feels it will help keep his 1, 115 pupils in school.

“We are located in the heart of Maramba which is notorious for drug and alcohol abuse, so for us, this is a good initiative because it will benefit us in the end and help keep the children in school," Mr Malumbe said.

He said the school administration has been engaging the DEC, especially on open days to talk to the pupils and sensitise them on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse.

“We have seen and felt it today that the DEC is not just about arresting and prosecuting, but also educating (people). This is very much encouraged and we are happy to have been chosen and included in the programme,” he said.

Other parents that are among the 27 undergoing training and are all optimistic that the training will bear fruit include Konda Nkhoma, Susan Sibajene, Elizabeth Mwandwe, Celestina Phiri, Susan Chewe and Albertina Haloba.

Precious Ngwira who is in charge of education and counselling at the DEC in Livingstone says the commission is looking forward to training as many parents and guardians as possible in the tourist capital.

“Many young lives have already been lost due to substance abuse. It is therefore important that we do something about it to avoid any more loss of life to something that can be totally avoided. It is my prayer that the parents and guardians take this training seriously,” she said.

With adequate training of parents in parenting skills, the DEC expects that this will improve communication between children and their parents or guardians. Open communication should culminate into the youth having open discussions with their parents on matters affecting them so that they do not fall prey to such social vices as drug and alcohol abuse.

BEAT FROM WALUBITA IN KAOMA: DJ Waz, a budding producer, rapper and filmmaker

HE might not be a household name in the country just yet, but best believe that in Western Province, 30-year-old Mike Walubita is a household name - especially to music and movie lovers.

Born to Harrison and Grace Walubita in Lusaka’s Kamwala Township, Mike who is fondly known as DJ Waz is into music and also film.

Yes! He is a rapper, producer and filmmaker.

I caught up with the Kaoma based entrepreneur who is also a teacher by profession and he did not shy away from sharing his story.

Mike went to Kamwala Primary School in Lusaka before moving to Mulamatila Primary School in Kaoma, and later completed his secondary education at Kaoma Secondary School in 2007.

Soon after, he started learning music production skills. “In 2010, I worked with music producers such as Eddy and Radikoh at Chingola’s Danger Zone studio. I learnt quite a number of things while working with them,” he says.

From then onwards, Mike who also has a Early Education Teachers diploma he obtained from the University of Zambia (UNZA) in 2016 has not looked back. “I am not teaching and I haven’t even been applying. I just did the course as a backup plan in case music failed,” he says.

Asked who inspires him, Mike says he is inspired by himself. “I have grown up and learnt my art. Growing up, I have always been an artist. I used to paint, draw, and was actively involved in theatre as well. So, I never really had anyone to look up to.

“The visits I made to Danger Zone Studios in Chingola made me feel like I would do music better. I interacted with many artistes including Macky II,” he says.

Despite having concentrated more on making beats, DJ Waz has recorded many songs, enough to release  four albums.

“...after playing around with music production software little by little, I started getting clients and before I knew it, I was becoming good at production,” he says. He adds: “After graduating from UNZA in 2016, I opened a studio in my father’s house in Kaoma which I later came to call Immac Music.”

As would be expected, the idea wasn’t easily accepted by his parents.

“My father always believed that I could do better than music. But right now, he has seen how far I have come and he has somewhat accepted a little bit and he wishes he would have been more helpful from the beginning,” he says.

Currently engaged to get married to Bathsheba Mutata, an actress, Mike has also been actively involved in film production.

“Musically, it has been a challenge. People underrate you because you are from a less developed province. People have very little confidence in what I did at first. It was not until after 2017 that you got to visit other studios and mingle with big artistes that they started to believe in me,” he says.

To date, Mike has worked with the likes of DJ Mzenga Man. “That has, in a way, pushed the studio to where it is now,” he says. He says Western Province has many promising artistes whose only problem is that they do not want to look beyond the region.

“There is a lot of competition from within ourselves and we are not looking at the bigger picture. You find that sometimes, when you do something that is very advanced, they will say it is good but you have gone too far,” he says.

He has hope that the narrative will change. “We are going to change this narrative. That is where I even got the Immaculate name from.  We can still adopt the American style, Nigerian style and sing using our language and still sound cool. It’s all about being unique. Otherwise in terms of Western Province, we are household names there,” he adds.

As a producer, Waz is into all genres except rhumba and classical music. “As an artiste, I am so much into Dancehall and Soul,” he says. The first song he recorded was Junk Boy in 2008.

“It was talking about how underrated and useless I seemed to be in the industry. The song was poorly done and people just didn’t buy into it,” he recalls. He says he plans to re-do the song. “It’s still a good song but it wasn’t just presented in the way I would do now. I lacked skill but had the talent to compose it,” he says.

Other songs to his name are, his favourite Holy Ghost Fire featuring Stevo, My Bululu featuring Drifta Trek, Never Letting You Go featuring Jae Cash, Bolokwa featuring Willz, Take Care of You featuring Slap D, No Stress featuring BombShell and Monde among others.

“I am working on something that I am hoping to get a verse from Chef 187. Otherwise, I have a lot of songs, enough to release even four albums. But I haven’t had the time to release an album just yet because I feel that’s something you have to be adequately prepared for,” he says.

He has worked with the likes of Petersen and General Ozzy. He says he would fancy working with Nigeria’s Mr Eazi.

“Most of his productions are similar to my songs in terms of productions. Locally, I would love to work with Cleo Icequeen. She can rap and she has made quite a big name for herself,” he says. In terms of movie production, he says his studio has so far produced six movies which have been received well.

“It’s a new thing and I would say so far so good and people are willing to help and support the vision. Many people have invested hugely into the studio and we have produced movies like After Prison, Ben, Dr. Triple, Volleyball Club, and Kalavina,” he says.