Soya Bean Farmers To Benefit As United Refineries Set To Invest $30 Million

An Agro-processing company United Refineries Limited (URL) is set to invest in soya bean production. The company intends to invest $30 million dollars in soyabean outgrowers’ project with a target to satisfy its demand for edible oil and stockfeed. The URL chief executive officer Busisa Moyo said the company is targeting to put at least 7 500 hectares under the Soy Bean Outgower Alliance (SOBOA) initiative. He said

So far, we have registered above 1 000 hectares in terms of farmers. This is an ongoing programme. Our target was 7 500 hectares, but due to some of the developments in the economy, we might not be able to reach that target. We think we will be able to get at least half of what we started with.

Zimbabwe requires about 400 000 tonnes of soya beans, but in the past several years production has plummeted due to a number of reasons. Local farmers have been able to produce about 60 000 tonnes which are far below the required amount.