The Sunday Mail
Tichafara Bepe
Edible oil manufacturers have come up with an elaborate plan to increase support to soyabean outgrower schemes for the 2018-2019 summer cropping season, as they angle to increase production of the crop, which is a key ingredient in the sector.
Last week, Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe (OEAZ) president Mr Busisa Moyo said the industry is engaging both small-holder and large-scale farmers. Through the envisaged scheme, banks will provide funds for farming inputs and irrigation infrastructure, while the edible oil manufacturers will provide a ready market for the cash crop.
The arrangement inherently guarantees that banks will be able to recoup their funds upon delivery of the crop.
Increasing production is expected to significantly cut the country’s import bill and create employment.
“What we know is that the country will save $300 million annually in forex for soya-related imports once we are self-sufficient, and we will create employment,” said Mr Moyo, who is also Unifed Refineries Limited (URL)’s chief executive officer.
URL is targeting to support 10 000 hectares, while Pure Oil – which has been helping farmers for the past two seasons – is angling for a conservative 5 000 ha.
Surface Wilmar, another key industry player, is still working out modalities for its programme.
Oil expressers usually require 240 000 metric tonnes per year to sustain their operations.
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) has set producer prices of the cash crop at $780 per metric tonne.
Plans are currently underway to help farmers double soyabean yields from the current one to two metric tonnes per hectare.
“Seed Co has a new seed variety that they are launching, which increases the prospects of higher yields,” said Mr Moyo.
Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki, who is considered one of the leading African scientists in the legume, told The Sunday Mail last week that outgrower schemes are likely to positively impact on production in the forthcoming season.
He, however, cautioned that increased funding and inputs doesn’t necessarily translate to a successful farming season, as there are other key factors that have to be considered.
Arming farmers with the requisite knowledge on soyabean farming is equally important, he said.
“The farmers also need supplementary irrigation to water the crop during dry spells since soyabean is planted during the rainy season. This will ensure healthy plants, which will push up productivity,” Prof Mpepereki said.
He commended financiers for availing funds for irrigation infrastructure.
There is also need, he added, to mechanise soyabean farming.
“There is a need for the provision of combine harvesters to contracted farmers so as to allow for early harvesting within 14 to 28 days before the seed pods shatter and the beans get on the ground.
“Soyabean seeds are too small to be picked from the ground, so the crop would have been lost in the field, which undermines the crop output.”
Support schemes and providing knowledge to farmers are likely to help increase yields to between three and four tonnes per hectare.
