Soyabean production rises 67 percent

05 Oct, 2018 - 00:10 0 Views
Soyabean production rises 67 percent Soya beans

eBusiness Weekly

Kudakwashe Mhundwa
Zimbabwe’s soyabean production is expected to increase by 67 percent during the 2017/18 farming season to 59 777 tonnes,  according figures from the Commercial Farmers’ Union of Zimbabwe have revealed.

Apart from the production of edible oils, Soyabean can be used to make stock feeds.

Soyabean production from the current farming season is estimated at 59 777 tonnes from 35 744 tonnes harvested during the 2016/17 farming season.

The Government has also extended soyabean into the Command Agriculture programme to increase output, as part of concerted efforts to increase its production.

Last season Government announced that it was leading mobilisation of $150 million for the 2017/2018 Command Soyabean Scheme.

“The increase is underpinned by increased input supply and improved rainfall from February 2018. The area under soyabean during the period under review is 40 479 hectares and average yield stands at 1,66 t/ha.”

Said economist Antonnette Chingwe in a 2018 report presented by the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union.

Currently soyabean contributes about 2 to 3 percent to the Agriculture GDP and yet the Agriculture industry contributes about 30 percent to the National GDP. It’s contribution to the Agriculture GDP can be more with increased production.

Some local cooking oil producers have started contracting local growers to increase production and reduce imports.

The Oil Seed Association of Zimbabwe (OSAZ) recently announced that they were embarking on a scheme aimed at boosting local production of soyabeans and sunflower.

OSAZ chairman Marshal Masvikepi is on record saying the scheme is targeting to fund 320 000ha for sunflower and 5 000ha of soyabeans.

“The response from the farmers has been overwhelming.

“So far we have 35 000 farmers who have registered for the programme and more are still coming in. This is the revival of sunflower production in Zimbabwe,” he said.

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