Historically in Zimbabwe, soya bean production was highly mechanized and was primarily carried out by the large commercial farmers in the high rainfall areas of the country. Commercial farmers produced 90 percent of the crop and the small scale farmers produced the remainder (Zimoil, 2011).
Can mechanised soya bean harvesting and primary processing reduce labor requirements?
This paper proposes mechanisation options fro soya bean harvesting and primary processing (threshing) processes which can be promoted as interventions to reduce labor requirements in soyabean harvesting and improving the viability of mechanised soya bean production in Zimbabwe.
Is harvesting a time critical operation for soya bean farmers?
Harvesting is a time critical operation for soya bean farmers in that if undertaken late, shattering results leading to high quantitative field losses. The paper presents current soya bean harvesting practices and their respective economic and operational challenges.
Why did soya bean re-introduce a 15% import duty on cooking oil?
As of August 1, 2011, with the help of the soya bean taskforce, a 15% import duty on cooking oil was re-introduced in an effort to stimulate domestic oilseed production and oil processing. This has again further increased domestic demand for soya bean.