GEOGRAPHY FIELD PROJECT
NAME: Raphael Nyundu
EXAM NO: 170902440038
TOPIC: CROP PRODUCTION AND
MARKETING AT YORK FARM
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Table of Contents
1
Chapter ................................................................................................................................................ 3
1.0
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 3
1.1
Back ground to the study .......................................................................................................... 3
1.2
Aim ............................................................................................................................................... 3
1.3
Objectives ................................................................................................................................... 3
1.4
Location of study ........................................................................................................................ 3
1.5
Purpose of study ........................................................................................................................ 4
1.6
Limitation ..................................................................................................................................... 4
2
Literature review................................................................................................................................. 5
3
Methodology ........................................................................................................................................ 6
3.1
Research design ........................................................................................................................ 6
3.2
Data collection ............................................................................................................................ 6
3.3
Data analysis .............................................................................................................................. 6
4
Findings ............................................................................................................................................... 7
5
Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 10
6
Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 12
7
Recommendation ............................................................................................................................. 13
8
Reference.......................................................................................................................................... 14
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1
1.0
Chapter
Introduction
Agriculture is an important economic activity that contributes to the national treasury. The
money collected is used in various economic sectors. Agricultural produce is a source of
employment, raw material for various industries. Agriculture leads to growth of urbans
and improve the living standard of people.
1.1
Back ground to the study
The Horticulture sub-sector in Zambia extensively covers fresh agricultural produce
including fresh vegetables such as asparagus, mange tout, sugar snap peas, fine and
bobby beans, baby corn, curettes, tender stem broccoli, okra, passion fruit, spring onions,
patty pan squash, eggplant, mushrooms, cucumbers, baby carrots, leeks and various
types of chillies. All these are grown on a single farm and it is for this reason that we
undertook this study.
1.2
Aim
To learn how crops are grown at York farm
1.3
Objectives
To appreciate production methods
To learn about different crops grown
To know the market for crops
1.4
Location of study
York Farm is located in Lusaka south along Kafue road. The farm produces rose flowers
of different colors for export and different vegetables for export. Some are also sold on
the local market.
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1.5
Purpose of study
This is to fulfill my Grade 12 requirement in Geography and to appreciate the methods of
crop production under the current climatic condition. Agriculture has advanced and York
farm is moving with technology to meet its market requirement.
1.6
Limitation
The time allocated was shot
Finances to make many visits
It was difficult to capture more data
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2
Literature review
The horticulture sector encompasses a wide range of crops namely fruit crops,
vegetables crops, potato and tuber crops, ornamental crops, medicinal and aromatic
crops, spices and plantation crops. New introductions like mushroom, bamboo and bee
keeping (for improving the crop productivity) further expanded the scope of horticulture.
While the first few Five Year Plans assigned priority to achieving self sufficiency in food
grain production, over the years, horticulture has emerged as an indispensable part of
agriculture, offering a wide range of choices to the farmers for crop diversification. It also
provides ample opportunities for sustaining large number of agro-industries which
generate substantial employment opportunities. The horticulture sector contributes
around 28% of the GDP from about 13.08% of the area and 37 % of the total exports of
agricultural commodities. During the previous three Plan periods, focused attention was
given to horticultural research and development which placed India as the second largest
producer of fruits and vegetables, largest producer and consumer of cashew nut, tea
spices, third largest producer of coconut, forth largest producer and consumer of rubber
and sixth largest producer of coffee in the world. Today, as a result synergy between
focused research, technological and policy initiatives, high efficiency inputs, horticulture
in Zambia, has become a sustainable and viable venture for the small and marginal
farmers. Besides, the sector has also started attracting entrepreneurs for taking up
horticulture as a commercial venture. Therefore, there is a great scope for the horticulture
industry to grow and flourish. All of the organic farms in this study grew a variety of crops
for farmers’ markets, although some were more specialized than others. Crop diversity
provided these farmers with a degree of security. In a given year, some crops may have
fared poorly but others performed well. Diversity enabled crop rotations that prevented
pest buildups, although rotating crops was hard for growers with limited space. On the
other hand, diversification challenged farmers to become adept at growing a wide variety
of crops. Especially at smaller scales, it was difficult for diversified farms to justify buying
specialized equipment because modest plantings and harvests usually did not warrant
significant equipment expenditures.
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3 Methodology
3.1
Research design
An appointment was made and on an agreed date. We went to the farm. Farm visits are
a sure way of studying farm related Geographic data. It would have been better to spend
about six month doing monthly visits so that most activities can be observed and recorded
as most crops take 3 to 6 months to mature.
3.2
Data collection
Data was collected using interviews, observation of activities, photos. They firm allowed
one supervisor who took us through all areas the farm. There after the supervisor asked
for questions from the gathering. Then they allowed short interviews.
3.3
Data analysis
The analysis was done using thorough read through of all interviews responses and
discussions of data collected. The use of software was also at hand to help filter through
the data.
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4
Findings
York farms sell most of its local produce at this point shown above. the buyer pays and
collects whatever they ask for. All fresh vegetables are sold fresh from the farm pack
house. It was explained to us that the produce are graded with highest grade being
exported and other grade sold local to freshmark a subsidiary of shoprite.
Other crops grown are onions as seen below. The crop production is so intensive such
that there is high yield throughout the year. The stand of the crop is seen in picture below.
A lot of crops scouting, spraying and more attention in soil conditioning is given.
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The most important crop grown are roses. These are also exported to Europe especially
in Holland, Germany and UK. The photo below shows workers packing roses in bunches.
It was said that farmers ought to try not to limit their investment in equipment, but do
invest in tools that will increase productivity. For instance, investing in a small cultivating
tractor and set of cultivating tools frees up labor for activities more closely linked with
generating income.
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Harvesting, post-harvest handling and marketing/sales. Analyze equipment purchases
carefully to ensure that tools fit your operation and goals. At smaller scales, an irrigation
system and cooler may be more important early purchases than a tractor. Be careful not
to fall into the trap of thinking that higher earnings are just one more equipment purchase
away. Auctions can be excellent places to buy used equipment at low prices—if you know
what you’re looking for and have enough knowledge to judge quality.
The roses are grown in green house where climatic condition is controlled and the rose
thrive. They have high yield per square meter than those grown in open field. The quality
is enhanced and sales more in the market.
The flower department produces cut flowers and summer flowers. The cut flowers
comprise mainly fresh roses that account for 95% of the sector while the remaining 5%
are summer flowers such as atriplex, amaranthus, ammimajus, euphorbia, hypericum,
bupleurium, rudbeckia. There are over 60 varieties of roses cultivated including tropical
amazon, golden gate, red calypso, first red, poeme, noblesse, prophyta and tyneke.
Others are baroness, suplesse, golden times, grandgalla, sapphire and akito.
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5
Discussion
The Horticulture sub-sector in Zambia extensively covers fresh agricultural produce
including fresh vegetables such as asparagus, mange tout, sugar snap peas, fine and
bobby beans, baby corn, curettes, tender stem broccoli, okra, passion fruit, spring onions,
patty pan squash, eggplant, mushrooms, cucumbers, baby carrots, leeks and various
types of chillies. The sector had been expanding overtime reaching its peak in 2003 with
export earnings amounting to US $45,969,290.00 but has since been experiencing a
decline in both export volume and earnings.
This general decrease in exports over the past years had largely been attributed to
decline in production volumes following the collapse of a few of the main players in the
industry and the subsequent cessation of support to outgrowers by one of the major
producers. The bulk of export vegetables are produced by medium and large-scale
farmers under outgrower schemes in limited geographical areas. Big horticultural farmers
engage small-scale growers, both individual farmers and cooperatives, as out-growers
providing key inputs such as seeds, chemicals and fertilizers, technical support and
closely supervise and monitor the growing activities to ensure that European Union
phytosanitary standards are met. These outgrower schemes bring small holder producers
into the export chain and improve their income earning potential.
It was said that Zambia has a ready export market for its horticultural products. The main
markets for fresh vegetables in 2009 were the UK, accounting for 47%, followed by
Congo DR, which absorbed 15% and South Africa accounting for 13%. Other markets
included Angola, Netherlands, Spain and Zimbabwe. Being landlocked, all Zambia’s
fresh produce exported to Europe is transported by air through chartered freights most
facilitated by the Zambia Export Growers Association (ZEGA) which has quality fresh
produce handling facilities at the Lusaka International Airport. Locally, fresh produce is
an important component of the diets of many urban households in Zambia who in most
instances do not produce their own. According to the CSO/MACO/FSRP Urban Food
Consumption Survey (UCS) of 2007/8, fresh produce account for 21% of the food budget
of urban households in Lusaka, coming second only to cereals and staples at 24%. The
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share of household total consumption of fresh produce from own produce is only 7%
which means that over 90% of the Zambia has a ready export market for its horticultural
products. The mainv alue passes through marketing channels as purchases. This
therefore demonstrates the readily available market demand and potential to grow the
horticultural sector in Zambia.
Floriculture is one of the fastest growing export industries in Zambia. It is usually
associated with cut flowers and summer flowers. The cut flowers comprise mainly fresh
roses that account for 95% of the sector while the remaining 5% are summer flowers
such as atriplex, amaranthus, ammimajus, euphorbia, hypericum, bupleurium, rudbeckia.
There are over 60 varieties of roses cultivated including tropical amazon, golden gate,
red calypso, first red, poeme, noblesse, prophyta and tyneke. Others are baroness,
suplesse, golden times, grandgalla, sapphire and akito.
The sector employs well over 6,000 people of which 50% are women. The women are
widely engaged during picking, grading and packing stages of the chain. The sector has
immense growth potential in terms of production expansion and value addition, foreign
exchange earnings generation, employment creation and contribution to overall socioeconomic developmentThe Zambian flower industry exports about $40m worth of roses
per year. In 2009, total exports for the floriculture sector amounted to US$22.6 million, as
compared to $26.9 million in 2008, thereby representing 16 percent reduction. This
reduction could be attributed to the slowing global economy in 2009 that hit the demand
for roses from Zambia. The main export markets for flowers in 2009 were The
Netherlands (Holland), Great Britain and Germany. Flower exporters are dependent on
a secure supply chain, with the fresh flowers kept refrigerated and disease-free as they
are moved quickly from the farm to markets in Europe within 48 hours. However, Zambian
flower exporters face potentially more difficulties than flower exporters in rival economies
such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This is because in Zambia, transport costs are
higher, because of the higher cost of petrol and jet fuel that has to be imported into the
country. The lack of a substantial scheduled airfreight service has also been a constraint,
as exporters have had to charter flights to take their flowers to market.
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6
Conclusion
There is no universal recipe for success as a vegetable grower. Farmers who excel have
a passion for growing, and they enjoy the work. They also often have a certain amount
of business and marketing savvy. Employee management skills are also important. The
following observations and recommendations were gleaned from this case study:
• Farming begins with the soil, and making money requires managing soil for optimal
health, fertility and weed management. Smaller growers are wise to adapt cover cropping
and soil fertility practices from larger farms. For example, some of the market gardens
under three acres seeded narrow strips of various cover crops on unused sections and
between cash crops.
• Focus on quality and set your prices accordingly. The smaller grower’s advantage
over larger growers (and all growers’ advantage over most conventional trucked-in
produce) is offering premium quality crops using limited land and equipment.
• It is often best to avoid standard commodity crops such as russet potatoes and sweet
corn. Seek unique crops or unusual varieties of standard crops. Carefully evaluate laborintensive crops such as berries.
• Keep records of your production costs and price your products accordingly. Run your
market garden like a business, even if it is mostly a hobby. If you lack business skills,
hand off those duties to a partner while you focus on production.
• Try to limit your investment in equipment, but do invest in tools that will increase
productivity. For instance, investing in a small cultivating tractor and set of cultivating
tools frees up labor for activities more closely linked with generating income: harvesting,
post-harvest handling and marketing/sales. Analyze equipment purchases carefully to
ensure that tools fit your operation and goals. At smaller scales, an irrigation system and
cooler may be more important early purchases than a tractor. Be careful not to fall into
the trap of thinking that higher earnings are just one more equipment purchase away.
Auctions can be excellent places to buy used equipment at low prices—if you know what
you’re looking for and have enough knowledge to judge quality
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7
Recommendation
Farming begins with the soil, and making money requires managing soil for optimal
health, fertility and weed management so as a beginner its important to pay attention to
soil.
Harvesting, post-harvest handling and marketing/sales depends on serious
management and skills.
Keep records of your production costs and price your products accordingly. It is the duty
of every producer to keep such for obvious reasons.
Season extending techniques and technologies, such as greenhouses, can increase
gross sales through longer harvest seasons and premium prices paid for vegetables out
of season.
Growers should fully consider the additional costs and work commitment required to
extend the growing season, including, perhaps, some negative impacts on quality of
life.
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8
Reference
Bratsch, Anthony. 2006. “Considerations for Growing and Marketing Specialty Crops.”
Virginia Cooperative Extension Publication 438-106.
Cowee, Margaret and Kynda Curtis. 2005. “Niche Marketing Opportunities for Nevada
Agriculture.” University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet-05-32.
Dunn, James, Jayson Harper, and Greg Greaser. 2000. “Agricultural Alternatives: Fruit
and Vegetable Marketing for Small-Scale and Part-Time Growers.” Publication of the
Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension
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