Zambia: Commercial farmer urges Zambian gov to protect potato growers

Stuart Cooke, who is managing director of Chartonel Farms in Lusaka, said a lot of cheap potatoes are allowed onto the Zambian market from South Africa, which is disadvantaging local farmers.

“Cheap imports are really affecting us. Our new crop is just coming in, but they have flooded the market with cheap imports from South Africa. Zambia is being used as a dumping ground for South African produce. Only when the price in South Africa is very low do they sell here and that affects our market in a big way,” Mr Cooke said.

He said the local potato growers are able to satisfy the market. “We are capable of supplying the market throughout the year. We are on the market selling 11 months of the year, and I’m confident we can supply the market,” he said.

“If these imports keep coming, then obviously we are going to struggle to make our repayments to the banks,” Mr Cooke said.