Maravi

ZEGA urges Africa to exploit world trade

ZEGA urges Africa to exploit world trade
By Fridah Zinyama
Friday August 15, 2008 [04:00]

ZAMBIA Export Growers Association (ZEGA) has urged other African countries dealing in horticulture to take advantage of world trade which has increased five fold over the last 20 years. According to ZEGA chief executive Luke Mbewe in a presentation at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA) business forum, Africa’s share of world trade has virtually halved from 4.5 per cent to 2.6 per cent over the period.

However, he noted that Asia’s share in world trade had however increased significantly over the period. Mbewe said production for vegetables in Zambia has been growing with the increase in participation of small-scale growers.

“But most farmers still have a long way to go since there are a lot of requirements which have to be met before their products can enter certain markets,” he said. “Issues of quality play an important role and most of the horticulture markets have set stringent measures in place for all exports entering their markets.”

He said countries in the region could take advantage of the increase in world trade despite the many challenges which have to be faced.

“Most countries which most African countries export to like Europe and the United States have stringent standards to fulfil,” Mbewe said.

He said there was also discriminatory enforcement of standards by application of higher standards on imports.

Mbewe added that most of the countries would have to improve the quality of their products if they are to enter some of these markets.

“But in improving quality, the farmers will have to incur the high cost of training and certification which is quite expensive for them,” said Mbewe.

Labels: COMESA, EXPORTS, HORTICULTURE, LUKE MBEWE, ZEGA

posted by MrK @ 9:57 PM