By Rahim Abdul
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Corporation (SMEDCO) has started buying tomatoes from farmers in Phalombe in a move aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and keeping the crop available beyond the peak harvesting season.
The corporation says it is purchasing the tomatoes directly from farmers, providing them with a market for produce that could otherwise go to waste due to limited storage and market opportunities.
According to SMEDCO, the tomatoes will be stored at its factory in Phalombe for up to six months before being released onto the market when supplies become scarce.
The initiative could help bridge the gap between periods of high tomato production and times when the commodity becomes less available on the market.
SMEDCO says the programme is also intended to support farmers by creating a more reliable market for their produce during the harvesting period.
Apart from storage, the corporation is processing part of the tomatoes into tomato sauce and other products as part of efforts to add value to the crop.
The processing component is expected to provide an alternative way of utilising tomatoes instead of relying solely on fresh produce sales.
By turning part of the harvest into processed products, SMEDCO is seeking to reduce losses while creating products that can remain on the market for longer periods.
The corporation’s approach comes at a time when tomato farmers can face challenges finding markets for large quantities of produce during peak harvests.
Storing tomatoes for later sale could also help maintain market supplies when production declines, according to the corporation.
The initiative therefore links tomato farming with storage, processing and marketing, giving the crop a longer commercial cycle beyond the farm gate.
SMEDCO says the programme is part of its efforts to support small and medium enterprises and promote value addition while helping farmers secure markets for their agricultural produce.
