AGRICULTURE Marketing Authority (AMA) needs more than $10 million to support the production of soya beans during the current summer cropping season, an official has said.

MTHANDAZO NYONI
OWN CORRESPONDENT

AMA is the statutory body that regulates production, buying, selling and processing of agricultural products and it has been promoting contract farming for strategic crops and livestock through provision of required finance.

The body seeks to boost soya bean production given that the country has been facing shortages of the locally made cooking oil.

Recently, agro-processing concern, United Refineries Limited revealed it had set aside $2 million for soya bean contract farming to improve supply of the raw material to boost capacity utilisation levels.

In an interview with Southern Eye Business, AMA production planning director, Maxwell Chikanda, said the authority was looking forward to strike mega deals with local companies like Olivine Industries, United Refineries, among others, as a way of boosting the production of soya beans in the country.

He said the government recently allocated $6,4 million as part of an input support programme for soya beans.

“We are calling upon financial institutions to come in and support commercial farmers who are keen to undertake soya bean farming.” Chikwanda said.

“Monetarily, the body needs $15 million for contracting farmers and purchasing inputs. We have flighted adverts inviting willing companies to come on board and strike deals with us.”

He revealed the government made available $61,2 million for livestock production which is currently in the doldrums.

According to official statistics Zimbabwe needs approximately 200 000 tonnes of soya beans per year, 33% meant for stockfeed.

Soya bean production has been on the decline, recording a sharp fall from a peak of 175 000 tonnes in 2001 to 50 000 tonnes in 2003.

Production started recovering in 2011 when output reached 100 000 tonnes.