Trust calls for investment in processing, value-addition

The Legumes Development Trust has urged government to champion investments in legumes processing and value-addition reduce the export of raw produce.

In an interview on Monday, Legumes Development Trust manager Sangwani Makoko said focus on legumes should be a priority as earnings from tobacco continue to dwindle.

She said: “If there are sustained high prices, people tend to grow the crop to reap the benefits, but when there is high supply without corresponding off-takers, it results in dampening the prices. But with large processing and value addition plants things should be better.”

Makoko said the poor showing of tobacco will lead farmers to shift to legumes as alternative value chains owing to improved prices.

In a separate interview, Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson Gracian Lungu said they have been getting investment proposals from various stakeholders and that the ministry was working with Ministry of Trade and Industry to create structured markets for farmers.

Agricultural development and policy expert Tamani Nkhono-Mvula said to sustain better legume prices, farmers should be in cooperatives to bargain for higher prices.

He urged local farmer organisations to ensure they secure and sign long-term contracts with both local and external buyers.

On his part, National Working Group on Trade Policy chairperson Frederick Changaya, who is also managing director of Applecore Grain & Milling Limited, said availability of market remains key to sustainable production and better prices.

He said: “It will be disappointing to raise farmers’ hopes with better prices only to have highly suppressed prices next year, government should plan ahead to sustain the current momentum.”

For instance, soya beans last year was sold at a record K650 per kilogramme (kg), up from an average K250 per kg in previous years, and earned the country $100 million (about K83 billion) compared to tobacco’s $196 million.

Legumes are touted as critical in diversifying the economy from the dominant tobacco crop.