LOCAL farmers have embraced a vegetable and fruit deal proposed by Choppies Enterprises in the wake of the government’s ban on imported farm produce, describing the firm’s proposal to finance farmers as a positive move towards the growth of agriculture in the country. MTHANDAZO NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT
The Botswana Stock Exchange-listed retail firm has proposed supplying local farmers with equipment and inputs to produce fruits and vegetables so that they could buy quality produce from them.
On Wednesday Choppies management met more than 50 farmers from Bulawayo and beyond who unanimously endorsed the proposal at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex. The meeting was attended by government officials from the Agriculture ministry.
Speaking at the meeting, Choppies operations manager Viresh Naik said the deal was a win-win proposal. He urged local farmers to embrace it, saying the firm was expecting to finalise it soon to avoid any waste of time.
“We need all types of vegetables, fruits and meat to supply our 14 outlets doted around Bulawayo and we are expecting to operate in Harare and Gweru in the next few months,” Naik said.
“We are growing and this is the reason why we want to contract you farmers so that we might have a constant supply.”
Naik asked farmers to go to their respective groups or associations and form committees that will represent them.
He, however, could not disclose the financial details of the deal, such as how much the firm would pump into bank-rolling farmers to produce fruits, vegetables and other produce such as meat.
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The district agricultural extension officer for Umguza district, Shalene Mabharani, said the development was good, urging Matabeleland farmers to “grab it with both hands”.
“It is a good offer because farmers need support financially and they need to develop their infrastructure and the deal will make marketing easier for them,” Mabharani said.
Rejoice Moyo, the secretary of Women and Youth in Poultry, said the deal was long overdue and urged Choppies management to be sincere about it.
“We as women in poultry are ready for the deal and it is long overdue. We were ready as of yesterday,” she said.
Women Farmers Association national chairperson Judith Maphosa welcomed the proposed deal, saying it would empower women farmers in the region.
She encouraged women farmers “to take it without fail”.
Last week the government banned imports of fresh fruits and vegetables arguing that increased local production will meet domestic demand.
The ban impacted mostly on supplies of tomatoes, potatoes, mangoes, grapes and apples from neighbouring South Africa.
The ban affected local supermarkets who were importing vegetables and fresh fruits from neighbouring countries.
