People are seen at a weekday market in Lusaka, Zambia, on Oct. 5, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

 

People are seen at a weekday market in Lusaka, Zambia, on Oct. 5, 2021.(Photo: Xinhua)

 
Juliet Hampande, a vegetable and corn grower based in Zambia's Kafue district, 40 km south of the capital city Lusaka, is now always looking forward to selling her produce at a weekday market.

Hampande is one of the farmers that have been utilizing opportunities presented by weekday markets conducted in designated areas of Lusaka.

"I make sure that I have enough vegetables and corn for sale every Tuesday and Thursday because it is on these days that I have a chance to get substantial returns on my produce," said the 38-year-old Hampande.

She lamented that business has been very slow for many small-scale farmers like her during the COVID-19 pandemic but that weekday markets are helping to cushion the impact of the crisis period.

She pointed out that weekday markets have been instrumental in ensuring that small-scale farmers from her area have access to ready markets for their produce and that the initiatives are helping many of them to survive.

She revealed that she has participated in weekday markets throughout the pandemic period and that her earnings from the same have ranged from 300 to 1,000 Zambian Kwacha (about 58 U.S. dollars) per day.

"I am assured of going home with some essential groceries such as sugar, salt and some soap every time I go to sell my farm produce at a weekday market," Hampande said.

Esther Manchinshi, 36, a farmer from Chilanga district 20 km south of Lusaka who also sells her produce at a weekday Market in Lusaka's John Howard area said the weekday market has enabled her to deal directly with consumers who have helped her get a better return on her merchandise.

"At a weekday market, one gets to sell their products on their own without involving any middlemen. This has really helped me to cut down on costs. As a small-scale farmer, avoiding unnecessary costs has been key to surviving during this COVID-19 pandemic," Manchishi said.

She added that more and more small-scale farmers are seeking out ways of participating in weekday markets because of the huge direct market opportunities that these spaces have to offer farming communities around Zambia.