Despite the weather not being the friendliest this evening, most people’s attention on the fortunes that today’s Start Up Grind Lusaka guest seems to be raking in from her agro venture in tomato farming seems to be the heater providing them with the much needed warmth.
And as soon as Maria Zileni Zaloumis the 32 year old "tomato queen" emerges, everyone’s attention draws toward her as they spot smiles of admiration for her courage to abandon nursing a field she is trained in and take up agriculture a field she was totally blank in hitherto.
The old and young have all gathered to get some inspiration after hearing about Maria’s daily tomatoe sales which range between K25, 000 and K40, 000 when the price is good making monthly sales equivalent to some people’s retirement packages after serving in employment for years. However it comes at a cost owing to high chemical prices, time, dedication and passion.
Maria right being interviewed by Shupe.
As soon as she settles with her interviewer ShupeMwanza who is Start Up Grind Zambia Chapter Co-Chairperson, the audience is all
eyes and ears on Maria as she delves into how she started from half a hectare of
tomatoes in August 2016 started by her mum to the current 13 hectares.
She reveals that the market for tomato in Zambia is
huge adding that bigger farmers whom she looks up to are also in the league.
Part of Maria's tomato field
“I sale most of my tomatoes at Soweto market and we
also extend to Southern and Western Provinces with the latter being a link into
the Angolan Markert,” notes Maria.
Fast forward asked about where she sees herself in
five years time, with a smile on her face while cleaning her right eye with
tissue after suffering a chemical spill earlier in the morning on her farm, Maria
shoots straight into wanting to make an impact in the country and inspire many others.
"In five
years, I want to make such a bg impact in Zambia espcially among young people
like me. I want to add value to my tomato business maybe have an outgrower
scheme,“ says the bubbly farmer.
Maria told the gathering that she also has cows with
which she has developed a close bond and does not even think of ever killing or
selling them.
"I love my mum's cows and they all have names to
which they respond,“ she notes.
Maria employs 23 full
time farmers but the number of employees at times skyrockets to 45 depending on
the amount of work which requires the engagement of part timers.
A member of the audience asking Maria a question
She views farming as a sector that will create a lot of
employment in the next few years because of the rise in demand of food locally
and the region owing to population expansion. Maria encourages young people to
consider venturing into the sector and create their own jobs instead of
lamenting to government for jobs.
With enough publicity recieved over the months after
first making an appearance on ZNBC TV in a documentary with Effie Mphande,
Maria has seen plenty of glory and success following her with the Minister of
Agriculture Dora Siliya having toured her farm for a recording with CNN on
Maize production recently. The 32 year old was also interviewed by the
international news outlet on maize production which she grows for her cattle to
cut down on feed costs.
Part of audience listening to Maria's agric story
Recently Maria took up a new challenge of Chairperson of Fruits and Vegetables under the
Zambia National Farmers Union. She attributes all the glory and success which
have made her the youngest commercial tomato farmer in the country in less
than a year of venturing into the sector accidentally to passion, hardwork and
faith in GOD.
She now plans of extending her tentacles into livestock
production like dairy cows on a large scale but first she wants to stabilize in
tomatoe production.
With a lot of publicity recieved Maria has caught more
than the attention of international media outlets but also international
agencies like USAID who have given her a grant in form of a Green House for her
seddlings.
Maria in front of her new green house
About Start Up Grind Lusaka
Start Up Grind Lusaka
is part of Start Up Grind Global a Silicon Valley-based organization that
educates and mentors entrepreneurs through monthly business events and speaking
series. It is the largest independent
startup community, actively educating, inspiring, and connecting 1,000,000
entrepreneurs in over 200 cities. For Zambia the platform
is held every last Thursday of the month.
