Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU) says is in the process of encouraging farmers to take up soya bean contract farming growing schemes to increase the crop production in the country to 65 000 hectares by 2012.
ZCFU public information officer Blessing Mangure said efforts to increase soya bean output have been result of increased demand.
“The soya bean contract scheme was necessitated by the demand in soya bean in the manufacturing industry and from our research it was clearly noticed that there is a downward trend and the industry is feeling the pinch,” said Mangure
In a statement at the weekend, ZCFU said interested farmers should register with organisation ahead of the 2011/12 summer season.
“Seed, fertilisers and chemicals will be provided under this scheme. Preference will be given to farmers with irrigation facilities, tillage and spraying equipment. Union agronomists will visit registered farmers to assess suitability for the scheme,” the farmers organisation said.
He said currently soya bean production in the country was very low and oil manufacturer companies were failing to meet demand as a result of little production in soya bean.
