100,000mts of Soya Beans proposed for export

Oilseeds stakeholders and the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) have unanimously agreed to export 100, 000 metric tonnes of soya beans arising from increased production.

The stakeholders who include the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ), the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ), the Dairy Association of Zambia (DAZ), the Crushers of Edible Oils and Refiners Association (CEDORA) and the ZNFU resolved during a consultative meeting on soyabeans marketing for the 2022 marketing window held on 26th May, 2022 at ZNFU in Lusaka.

Announcing the development in a statement, ZNFU media and public relations manager, Calvin Kaleyi says the stakeholders based their rationale on the announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture that the country’s estimated production of soyabeans was pegged at 475, 353 metric tonnes in the 2021/2022 farming season.

Mr. Kaleyi explains that the stakeholders hence resolved that domestic utilization will be as follows; That 230, 000MTs of soyabeans will be utilized in manufacturing of feed and other animal protein and 50, 000MTs will be utilized in the manufacturing of food for human consumption, bringing the total domestic requirements to 280, 000MT, which would leave a total of 195, 353MTs of soya beans available on the market.

He says the stakeholders have since recommended to the ministry of agriculture to first Allow for the allocation of 100, 000MT of soyabeans for export through the Grain Traders Association of Zambia (GTAZ) as this allow the traders to participate in soya beans marketing and venture into the export market, which will in turn be of benefit to the entire value chain and is key to future expansion of soya beans production.

And secondly to allow for the allocation of 95, 000MT for soya meal/cake to the Crushers of Edible Oils and Refiners Association (CEDORA) so as to allow the Refiners to export soya cake while stock feed processors lock in their domestic requirements.

Mr. Kaleyi is optimistic that the export of the 100, 000 metric tonnes of soyabeans will allow the traders to participate in soya beans marketing and venture into the export market, which will in turn be of benefit to the entire value chain which is also key to future expansion of soya beans production.