NJOBVU CALLS FOR TOMATO PROCESSING TO END WASTAGE, CREATE JOBS

…describes wastage of tomatoes as disastrous to farmers By Francis Chipalo Democratic Union President Ackim Antony Njobvu has urged government and investors to prioritise tomato value addition as a way to reduce post-harvest losses, stabilise farmer incomes, and create jobs for Zambian youth. And Njobvu says it is disastrous to farmers and the country to […]

…describes wastage of tomatoes as disastrous to farmers

By Francis Chipalo

Democratic Union President Ackim Antony Njobvu has urged government and investors to prioritise tomato value addition as a way to reduce post-harvest losses, stabilise farmer incomes, and create jobs for Zambian youth.

And Njobvu says it is disastrous to farmers and the country to allow tomatoes to go to waste when other alternatives could be found so that farmers don’t lose their money.

Images of tomatoes being dumped have caused concern among the public, with some people mocking tomato farmers on social media, a situation Njobvu said is unfortunate.

Njobvu noted that Zambia experiences massive tomato wastage every year when farmers harvest large quantities at the same time. Prices then collapse, leaving many farmers with no choice but to dump their produce.

He said this is due to lack of having a leadership that is innovative in sectors like agriculture.

“It is painful to watch our farmers throw away tomatoes while at the same time we are importing tomato paste, sauces and powders worth millions of dollars every year. This contradiction must end,”he said.
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Njobvu said the answer lies in moving from selling raw tomatoes to processing them into products with a longer shelf life.

He suggested tomato paste, puree, canned tomatoes, sauces, ketchup, dried tomatoes, tomato powder, juice and chutneys as products that can be produced locally using Zambian tomatoes and sold elsewhere too.

“A fresh tomato lasts about 7 days. But tomato paste and powder can last 18 months. That is the difference value addition makes. It protects the farmer, it feeds the consumer, and it creates jobs,” he explained.

The DU President added that by-products such as animal feed and organic fertilizer can also be made from tomato waste, ensuring that nothing goes to waste.

Njobvu noted that establishing small and medium processing plants in key tomato-growing areas like Lusaka, Central and Copperbelt provinces will directly benefit youth and women through employment in farming, processing, packaging and distribution.

He called on government institutions such as CEEC, ZDA and the Ministry of Agriculture to provide financing, training and market linkages to local SMEs interested in agro-processing in line with the Grow Zambia Agenda.

“Zambia has the land, the water and the farmers. What we are missing is processing capacity. If we invest in that, we will stop importing what we can produce and start exporting what we can brand,”he said.

“This is how we grow Zambia. Not by talking, but by adding value to what we already have. Let us turn our tomatoes into jobs, into revenue, and into a stronger economy and stop this wastage,” he added.
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