By NATION REPORTER
NATIONAL Union for Small-Scale Farmers in Zambia (NUSFAZ) says the unattractive pricing for other crops other than maize has discouraged small-scale farmers from embracing crop diversification.
[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”4,5,6″ ihc_mb_template=”2″ ]
NUSFAZ Executive Director Ebony Lolozhi has observed that farmers in the previous farming seasons grew soya beans but the pricing of the crop on the market dropped drastically, a situation which discharged most farmers to grow the crop during the 2023/2024 farming season.
Mr. Lolozhi is of the view that to encourage crop diversification, government must create a competitive market for other crops aside from maize.
Mr. Lolozhi is concerned that little has been done to actualize crop diversification as it can be seen from lack of interest among small-scale farmers to embrace the agenda.
He says this is because most farmers in the country are still operating under old tradition methods of farming which usually entails the growing of maize for household consumption and a source of income.
[/ihc-hide-content]
