Posted on March, 18, 2019 at 10:57 am
SMALL and medium scale farmers producing red kidney beans will soon start earning millions of shillings after gaining to access to European market with a quota of 500,000 metric tons per annum.
Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) Country Manager, Ikunda Terry said in Dar es Salaam this week that the European export market will earn local farmers between 2.5 and 5 Euros per kilogram. He said European consumers also want locally grown dry beans.
“As we all know the European market is quality sensitive as such local farmers need to use modern crop husbandry practices to meet consumer taste,” said terry who advised the farmers to use hybrid seeds developed by local research institutions but also listen to extension officers.
“We are very glad to secure a big market for red kidney beans in Europe but the main challenge is insects that destroy beans hence the need to safeguard the crop,” Terry added.
The EAGC Country Manager further noted that European consumers want organic beans the need for farmers to ensure that the product is protected from contamination by other seeds in the market.
“As EAGC we have faith and confidence in Tanzanian high qualified and experienced researchers who have developed hybrid seeds but also train farmers how to control insects and diseases that attack beans,” he noted.
He also advised that because of the nature of the European export market, farmers should also work with agro dealers and engage business development consulting firms and university academics who will provide innovative technologies needed by high end markets.
“The use of information communication technology is crucial to know the markets and prices of commodities globally,” he stressed.
Local farmers are already exploiting the pulses and cereals global market with exports to India, China and other Asian countries where demand has been increasing. The farmers are also exporting rice and maize to neighbouring countries while a lucrative cassava market has
been secured in China thanks to EAGC support.
European imports of peas have increased since 2013 from 24,000 to over 30,000 tons last year which is roughly 10 percent of the total import of leguminous vegetables. Nearly all beans and pea imports from non-European countries came from developing countries including Guatemala, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Source: IPP Media