The Sunday Mail
Shamiso Yikoniko
Although some sections of society have lashed at the import restriction of certain goods by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the move is set to promote local industries and increase production. Last month, Government gazetted statutory instrument 64 of 2016, which removed goods such as peanut butter, yoghurts, ice-creams, cultured milk, cheese, flavoured milks and dairy juice, that are locally available, from the Open General Import Licence exemption.
Soya bean farmers are amongst those who are set to benefit from the move.
Soya-beans can be used to make a wide range of products such as vegetable oil, livestock feed, soy milk, soy flour, soy meal, soy-based infant formula, soy ice cream, soy yoghurt, soy cheese and margarine.
It can also be processed into soya-bean meal.
Soya beans can also be used in manufacturing industrial products such as oils, soap, cosmetics, plastics, inks, crayons, solvents, clothing.
The produce can also be a primary source of biodiesel or fermenting stock in the manufacturing of vodka.
According to the National Soya-bean Task Force (NST), there has been low production of soya-beans with farmers producing 60 000 tonnes against a national requirement of 240 000 tonnes.
