Transport And Marketing Of Horticultural Crops By Communal Farmers Into Harare

Abstract

A study was initiated in 1987 with the aim of establishing the major characteristics of the transport and marketing systems for horticultural crops into Harare. Emphasis was placed on identifying the constraints in the rural-urban link and their impact on the communal farmers. The findings reported in this paper are based on interviews with almost 200 communal farmers using Mbare growers’ market and two private city wholesalers, the Independent Market and the National Fruit and Vegetable Agency. Together, these markets represent the major outlets for horticultural produce in Harare. Survey work was undertaken in January/ February and June/July, 1987, in order to identify any seasonal variations in the marketing. The study was undertaken as part of a larger project concerned with the overall development of horticulture in Zimbabwe, including the large-scale commercial sector and the potential for export, thus allowing some wider comparisons to be made (Smith, 1987, 1990).