HOW TO MAKE IT IN TOMATO BUSINESS

By Eric K. Mwenda

Tomato crop will remain a special raw material to millions of mothers globally.

To Zambia it also plays the same part as well as being one of the major Vegetable crops providing an income to millions of farmers across the nation.

It is against such a background that this crop is a very important vegetable on Zambia's cropping calendar.

Allow me to quote one South African CEO," Am not in business simply to buy and sell and make a profit. I approach business from a different angle: I see it simply as a catalyst for social good-Isaac Shongwe.

I totally agree with him and say Tomato growing and all it's businesses are a catalyst for economic transformation andit has to be understood this way before anything else. I decided NOT to stand at the fence and watch comments flying from every tabloid and social media platforms.

It is TIME we gave direction and guidance to a nation.

Let me share 5 Key important reasons why you must continue growing tomato:-

1.It is an income generator

Every business in the world is volatile-no stories about that.

Grow it because you want to be in business NOT that you are primarily influenced by the laws of supply and demand Understand it that way and you will remain in business.

The advise here is be on the market at ALL times and you will never regretting growing a Tomato.

2.Dont be an opportunist

Majority of growers get into it after hearing that the soweto price is at K600 per box. Never do this at any time.

Plan your growing calendar and get relevant information to help you set up a good Tomato field.We are here to set you upfor greatness.

Opportunists always get to the market wheneveryone is at the market and get the so called, "Mafosho" prices-The Psychological K50 pricing. When they drop off the original growers keep making good money because by then the opportunists have run away.

Be strategic and intentional about your actions.

It is no longer a game of let me try andsee. You must never trade your  scarce resources for the sake of trying to do something-Experiments are costly and they affect a family, a community and finally a nation.

Don't expect a smooth run of business from January to December-No matter how crafted a business maybe ,it will have some pot holes. Understand this business by setting up standards of operation for your next Tomato crop.

When these are in place they set a pace which dilutes doubt and brings hope and a great picture to business.

Even if the price drops to K30 a box which happens sometimes-it is never a permanent situation and experienced growers keep being in the business because they know some losses will be appreciated by some big gains in few weeks to come.

The choice of varieties, the season of planting and your management style play a bigger role here.

You cannot proudly say you are a Tomato farmer without understanding the deep things about Tomato Markets and it's trends.

Deep yourself into this market and have a different understanding of this market.

Don't be absent to the market and only got here at harvest time-That is a recipe for disaster and you automatically become a good candidate for enlisting as a patient at one of the hospitals!

Which ever way you may call that person.

They will an understanding of what is happening and the trends and guide you profitably to the bank.

Next month we will look at how you can maximise your Tomato growing business.

Have a blessed and peaceful farming season.

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