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Abstract
Irrigated vegetable crop production as a viable economic venture helps
farmers gain full employment, all year round and generate substantial
amount of income. However, the positive prospects of emergence
of dynamic and strong commercial horticulture sector among small
farmers in the Lume area (as in other parts of the country) depends
partly on further support on marketing and improved post-harvest
product handling techniques.
Specifically, there is a need to develop and improve marketing outlets for
producers, and to improve marketing efficiency and competitiveness of
existing vegetable markets. Any marketing support to small vegetable
producers should focus on identifying and minimizing/neutralizing
the factors that help brokers and wholesalers to determine price to
their advantage. Any intervention should also be along the whole
vale chain as competitiveness of one market depends on the other that
precedes or follows it. It is essential to design marketing strategy for
increasing market chain competitiveness (both along the whole value
chain and in a given market especially where vegetable growers sell
the bulk of their vegetable.