EDITORIAL: Agro processors should make quality their guiding light

Of late farmers have been complaining of lack of markets for their produce, especially during the bumper season. Most of the complainants are those who deal with perishable goods such as fresh fruits, vegetables and tuberous crops such as potatoes. Their short shelf life compels farmers to sell at a loss when they have surplus. Now, it seems, the prayers of some have been answered with the introduction of a potato processing factory in the Northern Province, the cradle of the potato industry in the country. The government has been urging investors and other stakeholders to embrace value addition to their products, not only agricultural produce. But the value addition has to factor in one very crucial aspect; quality. It is only with quality that local products can compete fairly on the world stage. It does not make economic sense if our supermarket shelves are dominated by foreign manufactured potato crisps. Many international agro processors have been found to doctor their products, either to increase their nutritional values or aesthetic appeal to the eye to boost their sales. This is done without undue care for the potential health risks on the consumers, and, in many cases, the consumers are unaware of the hazardous additions along the production chain. But with local agro products, regulators would be able to keep a close eye on production to ensure they are fit for human consumption as well as ensuring the highest norms of quality standards. The potato processors have paved the way, it is now up to others to follow suit to utilise our well-endowed products the same way the coffee industry has fared.

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EDITORIAL: Agro processors should make quality their guiding light