(HERALD) Increase soyabean production: Taskforce

Increase soyabean production: Taskforce
Agriculture Reporter

Soyabean farmers should increase production to be able to meet rising international demand, National Soyabean Promotion Taskforce chairman Professor Sheunesu Mpepereki has said.

Prof Mpepereki told journalists that there was demand for the crop coupled with lucrative markets.

"Plant as much hectarage as you can and dangers of inaccessible markets will not be experienced," he said.

Another taskforce member, Mrs Elizabeth Musimwa recently said she was concerned about the continuous decrease in soyabean yields.

"We have better crop varieties, but still yields are poor and there has to be research to solve the issue of yields," Mrs Musimwa said.

She urged the responsible authorities to consider investing in research on climate change and how it affects agriculture.

"Agritex officers should also work hand in hand with soyabean producers to ensure quality yields at the end of the season so that we can meet the growing demand," she said.

Recently, a delegation from Italy enquired about national soyabean production levels and potential exports.

Prof Mpepereki urged farmers to fully use the growing window period to ensure a successful harvest. To realise optimum harvests, the cash crop should be planted between November 15 and December 15.

He said agricultural inputs were now available with the price of Rhizobium, crucial for production, coming down when compared to last year.

A packet of Rhizobium sufficient for one hectare is going for US$10 down from US$25 last year. Rhizobium is mixed with the seed before planting and manufactures nitrogen fertilizer for the plant.

Farmers last season could not afford the chemical, a single packet of which, substitutes three 50kg bags of ammonium nitrate.

Prof Mpepereki advised farmers to use certified seed from registered seed houses.

"We advise farmers not to buy seed from street vendors," he said adding, "those unable to purchase can use retained seed from last season, but not more than one season old."

Farmers intending to use seed from granaries have to first carry out a germination test before planting on a large scale, he said.

On the use and application of herbicides, Prof Mpepereki said extreme caution should be taken lest farmers lose the crop.

"Care should be taken when applying herbicides, there are farmers who last season lost the entire crop after using non-selective herbicides," he said.

Soya bean production levels in the country reached a peak of 95 000 tonnes between 2005 and 2007.

However, rising production costs due to economic challenges the country faced over the past decade saw the levels falling.