SEEDS AVAILABLE, MARKETS MISSING

Farmers urge Government to open FRA to indigenous crops as drought fears, declining traditional varieties and weak market links threaten food security and rural livelihoods.

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 — 9 October 2026 — Farmers growing indigenous crops have called on the Government to open up the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) market to traditional foods, saying the lack of reliable buyers is discouraging production and threatening the survival of local crop varieties.

Speaking during the food fair and exhibition organised by the Zambia Governance Forum (ZGF) at Government Complex in Lusaka, farmers said limited market access was forcing many indigenous crop growers to produce only enough for household consumption.

“We need better access to traditional seeds and reliable markets to encourage increased production, preserve local crop varieties and strengthen Zambia’s food security,” the farmers said.

The farmers’ concern is that producing a crop without knowing where to sell it exposes small-scale growers to financial losses. When buyers are unavailable, farmers may limit cultivation to what their households can consume rather than invest in larger harvests. Over time, declining demand can also discourage the preservation of traditional varieties as farmers shift to crops with more dependable markets.

Kalomo District Administrative Officer Doreen Mwernda urged farmers to increase production of indigenous crops, saying many were adapted to local conditions and could help sustain food production during dry spells.

Speaking at the opening of the traditional food market, Mwernda encouraged farmers to showcase their produce, exchange knowledge and establish partnerships to strengthen national food security.

She said promoting traditional crops was particularly important as Zambia prepared for anticipated El Niño conditions, which could bring below-normal rainfall to parts of Southern Africa and increase the risk of drought.

Crops such as sorghum, cassava and some indigenous legumes can help diversify production and reduce dependence on a narrow range of staple crops. Depending on the variety and local conditions, some traditional crops can withstand dry spells better than crops requiring more water. However, drought tolerance is not guaranteed, and crop performance also depends on soil quality, planting practices and the severity of the dry spell.

Mwernda said promoting indigenous foods also supported the Government’s Grow Zambia agenda by encouraging local food production and preserving traditional diets.

She welcomed the participation of women farmers and urged exhibitors to use the market to sell their produce and exchange ideas.

“Without a farmer, there is no food on the table,” Mwernda said.

Farmers need buyers, not just seeds

Wilson Phiri of the Petauke Chamber of Commerce said farmers needed to organise themselves, identify markets and coordinate production to meet buyers’ requirements.

He said collective action could improve farmers’ bargaining power and help small-scale producers access larger markets. Individual farmers often struggle to negotiate favourable prices or meet the volumes required by large buyers, while organised groups can pool produce, plan deliveries and negotiate supply arrangements.

“Let’s actually come together, from our groups to agroecological groups, and fight together,” Phiri said, urging farmers to engage institutions and advocate for greater promotion of indigenous crops.

He cited the example of a farmer who struggled to find a market for onions despite potential demand from Japan. After receiving advice and acquiring a dryer, the farmer was able to dry the onions for export.

Phiri said the experience demonstrated how processing could help farmers add value to their produce and reach wider markets. Drying can extend the period during which produce remains usable and reduce losses from spoilage, although export opportunities also depend on meeting buyers’ quality, quantity, packaging and food-safety requirements.

He also said the Chamber had approached Choppies to secure shelf space for farmers supplying vegetables, beans and other products. The retailer agreed to provide space and receive monthly supplies, but the farmers failed to deliver the agreed produce, leaving the shelves unused.

The experience illustrates that market access involves more than finding a willing buyer. Retailers need consistent supplies, agreed quality and timely deliveries to keep shelves stocked. Farmers who cannot coordinate planting and harvesting may lose opportunities even when retailers are willing to sell local produce.

Phiri said farmers needed to coordinate production and honour supply commitments to maintain retailers’ confidence in local suppliers.

He also expressed concern about efforts to discourage traditional seeds in favour of hybrid varieties, urging farmers to work together to protect indigenous crops and expand opportunities for agroecological farming. His concern highlights the importance of maintaining access to traditional planting material while allowing farmers to choose varieties suited to their needs, production conditions and markets.

FRA market seen as a way forward

Shonga Jeffrey called on the Government to allow farmers growing indigenous crops to supply the Food Reserve Agency, which buys selected agricultural commodities.

Jeffrey said access to the FRA market could encourage production by providing farmers with a dependable outlet and reducing the need to transport produce over long distances in search of buyers.

The proposal raises the question of how public food purchasing can support crop diversification. The FRA already provides a recognised market for selected commodities, particularly maize. Farmers want the agency to consider whether suitable indigenous crops could also be purchased under clearly defined arrangements.

Such a move would require decisions on which crops to buy, the quantities required, quality standards, prices, collection points and storage. These details would determine whether the arrangement was practical for farmers and the agency. No change to the FRA’s purchasing policy should be assumed until the Government or agency confirms it.

Senior agriculture officer in Kalomo Oscar Makuyu said the Department of Agriculture encouraged farmers to meet household food needs before selling their surplus.

Makuyu explained that white maize had an established market through the FRA, while indigenous crops needed greater promotion to attract consumers and create more opportunities for farmers.

“Our key message is on nutrition and the food security component,” he said, urging communities to appreciate the contribution of indigenous crops to diverse diets.

Makuyu said traditional varieties, including indigenous potatoes, could be promoted alongside exotic crops to widen consumer choice.

He added that exhibitions, community engagement and seed fairs could help familiarise farmers and consumers with traditional foods. The department was also considering a seed fair in Kalomo to help preserve local varieties at risk of disappearing.

During the 2025/2026 farming season, the Department of Agriculture distributed small quantities of indigenous seeds, with some farmers reportedly harvesting between 15 and 20 kilogrammes.

Makuyu said seed banks could help preserve traditional varieties, multiply planting material and improve access to seeds. Seed banks can store and safeguard seeds, while community seed multiplication allows farmers to grow additional planting material for future seasons. Both approaches depend on proper storage, maintaining seed quality and ensuring that varieties remain available to farmers when needed.

Farmers struggle to compete for consumers

Maureen Sichinga said indigenous foods struggled to compete with vegetables such as cauliflower, green beans and cucumbers, which were more familiar to many consumers.

She called for greater Government support to create markets for traditional foods, warning that limited demand could discourage farmers from cultivating local varieties.

Sichinga also urged agroecological farmers to promote their products more actively, saying many consumers did not understand how agroecological produce differed from conventionally grown food.

She said conventional produce benefited from extensive advertising on television, radio and social media, while indigenous foods received little attention. Farmers therefore needed to explain their products, educate consumers and build demand.

Consumer awareness matters because availability alone does not guarantee sales. Buyers need to know how traditional foods can be prepared, where they can be purchased and what value they offer. Demonstrations, food fairs, recipes and collaboration with retailers could help introduce unfamiliar foods to more households.

However, promotion must be matched by dependable supply, acceptable prices and consistent quality. If consumers develop an interest in a product but cannot find it regularly, demand may not translate into a lasting market for farmers.

Agroecology and traditional food knowledge

Sichinga said agroecological farming could protect soil, reduce reliance on synthetic agricultural chemicals and preserve traditional food knowledge.

“We are agroecological farmers. We grow our food without using harmful chemicals,” she said.

She urged farmers to understand Zambia’s different agroecological zones because rainfall patterns influence crop selection, planting decisions and harvest prospects.

Farmers in drier areas need varieties suited to limited rainfall, while areas with more reliable precipitation may support crops requiring longer growing periods. Weather forecasts can also help farmers make informed planting decisions.

This is important because promoting indigenous crops does not mean every traditional variety will perform equally well in every part of the country. Farmers need access to information about growing periods, rainfall requirements, soil conditions, seed availability and potential markets before choosing which crops to plant.

Sichinga challenged participants to identify indigenous foods Zambia could promote internationally as part of its food heritage. Participants named cowpeas, groundnuts, cassava, sweet potatoes and indigenous fruits.

She said showcasing a wider range of traditional foods could preserve local knowledge, diversify diets and create opportunities for farmers beyond commonly grown staples.

Access to indigenous seeds remains a challenge

Ana Muhaswa from Mumbwa said traditional seeds were not readily available in many shops and agricultural input outlets, making it difficult for farmers to obtain indigenous varieties.

She said seed exchanges could help growers access different varieties and share planting material, but more support was needed to improve seed availability.

The difficulty of finding traditional seeds can limit farmers even when suitable land and potential markets are available. If planting material is scarce, farmers may be unable to expand cultivation or replace varieties that have disappeared from their communities.

Seed exchanges and community seed banks could help address the problem by enabling farmers to share, preserve and multiply locally adapted varieties. These efforts would need to be supported by good seed-handling practices and reliable systems for making planting material available before the farming season.

Michael Mandela, founder of an organisation working in agroecology, also supported calls for indigenous crop farmers to be given opportunities to supply the FRA.

The concerns raised by Muhaswa and Mandela point to two connected barriers: farmers need access to seeds to produce traditional crops, and they need reliable buyers to make production worthwhile. Addressing only one side may leave the other unresolved.

Farmers call for better soil management

Lydia Neziwe said the lack of buyers prevented small-scale farmers from expanding production beyond household consumption.

She cited yams as a crop that could find markets in neighbouring Malawi, arguing that farmers needed better organisation and market connections to take advantage of such opportunities.

Neziwe also raised concerns about declining soil fertility and called for greater attention to soil health, biodiversity and water conservation.

She said she had stopped using chemical fertilisers and herbicides, including glyphosate, in her backyard and had subsequently observed different plants and mushrooms growing there. However, the appearance of different plants or mushrooms alone does not establish what caused the changes; assessing the effects of particular farming inputs requires more systematic evidence.

Neziwe said agroecology went beyond conservation farming by emphasising environmental protection and natural processes in food production.

Her concerns underline the relationship between soil management and long-term production. Maintaining soil fertility and water resources is important for farmers seeking consistent harvests, but agricultural practices need to be assessed according to local conditions and reliable evidence.

Building a market for traditional foods

Farmers said indigenous crops could play a greater role in Zambia’s food system if producers had dependable buyers and opportunities to add value to their harvests.

Diversifying crops can help farmers manage rainfall risks, but increased production also requires market information, processing facilities, suitable storage and buyers willing to purchase the produce.

Stronger demand could create income opportunities, particularly for women farmers, while helping preserve traditional seeds, local knowledge and dietary diversity. Farmers, in turn, need to organise production around market demand and honour supply agreements.

The Government, public institutions and private retailers could help connect producers with buyers, while agricultural officers and farmer organisations could support seed preservation, production planning and the development of markets for less familiar crops.

The calls for the FRA to consider indigenous crops reflect a central concern raised at the exhibition: promoting traditional foods will have limited impact unless farmers can sell what they grow. Any expansion of public purchasing would need clear buying criteria and practical arrangements for collecting, storing and marketing the selected crops.

Zambia has farmers willing to cultivate indigenous crops and communities working to preserve traditional seeds. Turning that potential into stronger food security and better rural incomes will depend on making seeds accessible, building consumer demand and ensuring that farmers have reliable markets for their harvests.