Chronicle Editor
Harare Bureau
EDIBLE oils producer Agri Value Chain Zimbabwe has embarked on a major outgrowers scheme aimed at boosting the country’s sunflower production, this being a raw material it requires for oil production.
The company which produces Zimgold oil brand, recently opened a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art oil extraction plant in Chegutu to add to its extraction factories, and is also targeting at increasing soybean and canola seed production in the country for the proliferation of local oil production.
AVC is a subsidiary of ETG Parrogate Group which acquired Cargill assets in 2017 and has injected capital in the cotton, sunflower and soybean value addition.
Parrogate group chairman Mr Pradeep Ganediwal told Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza who was representing President Mnangagwa that at least 59 000 farmers have agreed to contract farming model.
“We have already registered growers for 87 000 hectares with 59 000 signed contracts and they will be receiving free inputs for sunflower from us.
“The farmers will also have a guaranteed market and we will be paying cash in the currency of their choice,” he said while not revealing the figure.
AVC, in partnership with another major oil expresser Pure Oil, launched the sunflower contract farming programme targeting at least 100 000 hectares of sunflower.
“It is our fervent hope that the inputs are disbursed on time so that we will be able to plant early. We are excited about the programme as the company has assured us of cash-on-delivery which boosts farmers’ confidence,” said Mr Paradzai Takawira from Makonde.
Another farmer, Ms Mercy Mararahanda from Zvimba, was optimistic that the crop was going to uplift their lives as climate change had started to take a toll on maize and other crop farming.
The Chegutu oil processing plant is a multi-seed processor which has the capability to gin cotton, crush multi oil seeds, refine oil and extrusion of soya.
“We acquired a multi-seed processor to address effects of climate change. If we are in short of cotton or soya bean, we will still be able to process oil using sunflower which a drought resistance crop,” Mr Ganediwal added.
Apart from oil production, the company also produces other products at the plant that include sunflower stockfeed, soya collets, soya meals and soya flex.
The initiative by AVC balances government’s agricultural turnaround plan which has put sunflower under the climate-proof agriculture scheme also known as Pfumvudza.
Under the scheme, farmers are availed oil, maize, small grain and cotton seeds.
Online Reporter