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Masvingo Correspondent
Hundreds of small-scale horticulture farmers in the Hwendedzo Resettlement, eastern Masvingo, have appealed to Government to construct a modern market place for them.

The farmers said they have capacity to meet Masvingo city’s horticultural needs by supplying cheap produce but are facing challenges in marketing their produce.

They are operating from undesignated and unsuitable sites along the Masvingo-Mutare Highway.

One of the farmers, Mrs Otilia Chidembo, said they have capacity to meet Masvingo city’s fresh vegetables needs if given the requisite support.

She said they wanted Government to build a bigger and better stalls from where they can sell their produce in hygienic conditions.

“This season we have good quality vegetables but our produce is being affected by the weather because most of the time it will be exposed to the sun while sometimes it ends up being soiled resulting in customers rejecting it,” said Mrs Chidembo.

“We appeal to Government to build a suitable place for us to sell our produce, we have the capacity to meet the vegetable needs of Masvingo city but we do not have a proper place to operate from.”

Another farmer, Mrs Prisca Chauraya said a new marketing place equipped with toilets would augur well for Hwendedzo horticulturalists.

“Currently, we are operating from the road side and there are no toilets but the number of farmers selling their produce has increased because our sphere of influence has expanded to cover Masvingo city and Mpandawana town, we need toilets so that we avert disease outbreaks,” said Mrs Chauraya.

Other farmers said construction of a modern marketing stall equipped with toilets would attract more farmers and help them expand their operations through increased revenue inflows.

Most small-scale commercial farmers in Masvingo East have been battling to secure proper marketing sites in Masvingo city and surrounding areas to sell their produce.