Online Reporter
Patience Maturure
Agriculture Reporter
SMALLHOLDER farmers are rapidly gaining dominance in the potato market, contributing a substantial share of the overall produce at Mbare Musika.
The farmers are supplying an average of 1 000 tonnes of potatoes daily.
Knowledge Transfer eMukumba chief executive officer Dr Charles Dhewa commended the potato crop from Nyanga for its good quality.
“Mass food markets continue to distribute income across the country showing us which commodities are coming into the market and which ones are going out and the dynamics in terms of prices. We also get to know details about the suppliers’ age and gender.
“We see supplies of potatoes coming from young small scale farmers. We have more than 300 tonnes of potatoes coming in from smallholder farmers in Nyanga, Manicaland and more than 350 tonnes from Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West.
“Farmers in Gweru, Masvingo, Kwekwe and other areas supply between 150 and 250 tonnes daily,” he said.
Dr Dhewa said the quality of potatoes from Nyanga was superior, making them ideal for seed production.
“The quality of the Nyanga potato is actually superior and competes on the market including Matabeleland. There is high quality seed and this is the reason why there is a lot of seed production in Nyanga,” he said.
Dr Dhewa said potato prices varied depending on quality and size.
“Current prices range from US$5- US$6 a pocket for small potatoes, US$ 6-7 small medium potatoes, US$7-7.50 medium potatoes, US$8-9 large potatoes and US$8-9 for extra-large potatoes per pocket,” he said.
With three distinct planting seasons — summer (rain-fed), first half of winter (irrigated) and second half of winter (irrigated) — local farmers can achieve up to three potato production cycles annually.
Dr Dhewa said sweet potatoes were also coming from Mashonaland East and Manicaland and the Vitamin A orange-fleshed sweet potato was popular on the market.
“It is gaining popularity as entrepreneurs are processing it into different products including juices. Some buyers are coming from as far as Karoi to buy sweet potatoes,” he said.
Dr Dhewa said vitamin A orange fleshed sweet potatoes were designed to address public health challenges caused by micronutrient deficiencies.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is promoting bio fortified crops, which are enriched with essential micronutrients like vitamin A, iron and zinc,” he said.
