BANANA farmers in Honde Valley have applauded a non-profit making organisations working in their area for facilitating trade relations with buyers of their produce.

The farmers have been for long crying foul and complaining over buyers who manipulate prices and engage in unscrupulous trading practices. They singled out Practical Action for its role in fostering relations between them and buyers.

Practical Action has assisted the farmers in setting up groups to enhance their bargaining power when selling their produce.

“This organisation (Practical Action) helped us with information on banana value chain addition,” one of the farmers, Mrs Rosemary Mushati said.

“It has organised workshops for banana farmers where they encourage us to form groups so that we have bargaining power when selling our produce. They have taught us a lot about value addition.”

There are about 34 banana farming groups in Honde Valley that are on the verge of joining other groups at Mupangwa Irrigation Scheme to form an association.

Mrs Petronella Mutatu, who is chairing the yet-to-be registered association, said the process was at an advanced stage.

“We are in the process of forming an association of banana farmers,” she said.

“Our aim is to make farmers speak with one voice when selling their produce.”

Practical Action district value chain facilitator Mr Isaac Chabata said their role was to facilitate good trading relations between banana farmers and buyers.

“Our role is to make sure that all parties benefit from the sale of bananas,” he said.

“Farmers were complaining about unfair trade practices, especially on the part of buyers. They were also complaining that buyers usually gazetted prices for them, which at times left them trading at a loss. There were also complaints over late payments and this is where we came in as Practical Action to mediate between the two parties,” he said.