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Midlands Bureau
THE Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe (OEAZ) has embarked on a programme to train and equip farmers with modern skills and knowledge to increase soya bean production in the country.

OEAZ chairman, Mr Busisa Moyo, told delegates during the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) annual general congress in Gweru last week that increasing domestic soya bean production must be a national priority by farmers to help the country curb imports.

He said the country was producing about 60 000 tonnes of soya bean annually against manufacturing sector’s installed capacity of 400 000 tonnes. As such,
Mr Moyo said, there was a need for Government to encourage more farmers to venture into soya bean production so that there is less foreign currency demand from oil expressers.

“As OEAZ we will be moving around all farming provinces with experts such as agronomists educating farmers on how to grow soya beans. What we want is to increase soya bean production. As oil expressers we have an installed capacity of 400 000 tonnes but local farmers are producing 60 000 tonnes,” he said.

“What it means is that we will be importing the deficit. This means that we need more foreign currency. Although we had an increase in soya bean production from 37 000t last year to 60 000t this year, we are the least in terms of soya bean production in the Southern region. South Africa produces 1,45 million tonnes, Zambia produces 320 000 tonnes, while Malawi is at 120 000 tonnes.”

Mr Moyo said there was a need for a collective input into the agriculture development plan that is being crafted by Government to enhance agricultural productivity in the country.

“We have an Industrial Development Plan that Government is coming up with. We said to Government this plan should be complemented by an Agriculture Development Plan because most of our industries are agro-processing industries. So, farmers should contribute to this Agriculture Development Plan,” he said.

Mr Moyo also said Government should facilitate the 99-year leases to beneficiaries of the land reform programme to be bankable so that they access loans and other agricultural implements to enhance productivity.

Meanwhile, young farmers have called on Government to consider allocating them more land so that they can revive the agricultural value chain and contribute to the attainment of a middle income economy bya 2030. Young Farmers chairperson Miss Ruramiso Mashumba said the youth also have a zeal to be productive and transform the agri-business sector in the country.

“Our biggest challenge is access to land. We want to own and control the land on which we operate. We are also seeking youth friendly policies that specify a certain allocation of land to the youths. The ongoing land audit will create spaces to accommodate young people on the farms. We are optimistic that the new Government is interested in investing in young people as the backbone of development,” she said.

Miss Mashumba said young farmers are now highly skilled through the rigorous training they obtained from agricultural colleges around the country and the continual trainings offered by ZFU and various agricultural stakeholders.

Meanwhile, ZFU executive director Mr Paul Zakariya said young farmers need market linkages and leadership coaching to harness the opportunities in the technological space.