Zimbabwe: Stakeholders target soybean self-sufficiency

Zimbabwe is aiming for 120,000 hectares of soya bean cultivation to achieve self-sufficiency in meal production, in line with the government's import substitution strategy. This shift has led to a significant reduction in soya bean product imports, saving the country US$103 million between 2022 and 2023. The area dedicated to soya bean farming has expanded, and production levels have increased, resulting in a 28% decrease in soya bean product imports. Stakeholders, including the Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe (OEAZ) and the Food Crop Contractors Association (FCCA), are actively involved in this initiative, with OEAZ offering contracts to farmers and providing market access for self-financing growers. The FCCA has seen a substantial increase in soya bean production, supported by various funding initiatives like the Presidential Input Scheme. However, challenges such as high production costs, limited funding, and low prices for self-sufficiency need to be addressed to achieve the set targets.