‘Opportunity to provide more food’ says Minister Harris
ZIZ News…Dec 18, 2010 – Even as he praised the farmers for their outstanding work for the year so far, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, Senior Minister, and Minister of Agriculture says there is still a room for existing farmers to produce more. Examining the statistics, Dr Harris said that domestic production in several crops was far from the domestic demand reflecting opportunities for market led production.
To demonstrate his point, Dr Harris presented the production statistics for 2010 and the estimated demand.
|
CROP
|
2010 Production (kilos)
|
National Demand
(kilos)
|
Opportunity for More (kilos) |
|
Cabbage
|
36,500
|
156,000
|
(119,500)
|
|
Carrot
|
139,600
|
174,000
|
(34,400)
|
|
Sweet pepper
|
22,600
|
96,000
|
(73,400)
|
|
Tomato
|
118,900
|
156,000
|
(37,100)
|
|
Onion
|
32,600
|
324,000
|
(291,400)
|
|
Peanuts
|
56,500
|
90,000
|
(33,500)
|
|
Pumpkin
|
200,000
|
156,000
|
44,000
|
|
Sweet potato
|
198,400
|
492,000
|
(293,600)
|
|
White potato
|
73,400
|
600,000
|
(526,600)
|
|
Watermelon
|
125,000
|
300,000
|
(175,000)
|
|
Yam
|
26,600
|
72,000
|
(45,400)
|
For 2010, the Central Bank recorded improved production compared to 2009 for carrots, tomatoes, pumpkins, yam, sweet potatoes and peanuts.
Dr Harris said that variability of weather, plus inadequate technology and infrastructural supports continue to limit agricultural output.
 |