adminexecutive Mr Rockie Mutenha said.
Speaking to farmers at a meeting in Shamva on Wednesday, Mr Mutenha said out of 400 000 tonnes the country required per year, only 83 000 were realised from last season.
“Most of the soya beans we need is for poultry and pig feeds and the expression of cooking oil. There is a huge deficit of the legume in the coun-try so we will be forced to import from South Africa, Zambia and Malawi.
“The disappointing thing is that there is a lot of soya beans market in Zimbabwe, for instance, Blue Ribbon, National Foods and Agrifoods that can easily absorb the product if produced locally,” he said.
Mr Mutenha blamed the situation on the farmers’ failure to source information on what the markets wanted and at what time of the year.
He also took the opportunity to advise farmers that AMA was mandated to give farmers information on markets and assist them explore new markets.
“You must approach us for information on crops to grow for a particular season and on the markets that will absorb the produce after production.
“Some companies are approaching us seeking import permits for products that are available locally but have not been marketed adequately by the producer,” said Mr Mutenha.
AMA would soon make it compulsory for farmers to register with them so that information on where a farmer was based and the crops he/she produced was readily available.
The farmers can register through Agritex, their contractors or even the different associations to which they are members to cut on expenses of travelling to Harare for registration.
“Government wants to know what farmers are producing and where they sell their produce, where they buy inputs so that activities are regulated.
“We have information on fertiliser and seed suppliers and the quantities they have,” he said.
He said AMA wanted to see fairness in marketing of agricultural produce for both the producer and the buyer.
Online Reporter