ZAMBIA – The country is expected to record low soyabean yields in the 2015/16 farming season due to a shortage of seed in the country.
Zambia is currently facing a shortage of soyabean seeds, and this has resulted in low production of the commodity in the 2014/15 farming season.
Most agribusiness dealers that exhibited at the launch of the 2015/16 farming season and diversification programme in Kafue recently told deputy Minister of Agriculture Maxas Ng’onga and Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) president Evelyn Nguleka that it is unfortunate that the country is currently experiencing a shortage of soyabean seed at a time when farmers need to diversify to such value crops.
Recently, some soyabean farmers expressed concern at the continued reduction in the price of the commodity on the local market as it was making the production of the crop unprofitable.
The shortage is also attributed to the late onset of the rains, as most farmers decided not to grow the commodity.
“We are currently experiencing soyabean seed shortage in the country, and this is as a result of a decline in soyabean production in the previous farming season (2014/15) which was as a result of poor rainfall.
The other reason that contributed to the recent shortage is the reduced prices of the commodity, and this caused many farmers not to grow the crop,” they said.
Commenting on the matter, Mr Ng’onga said Zambia has the potential to increase soyabean production, but there is need to find solutions to the current challenges affecting the growth of the sector.
January 7, 2016; https://www.daily-mail.co.zm/?p=55278
