Farmers advised to produce quality soya beans

United States African Development Fund (USadf) country programme coordinator Lynda Jere says soya beans growers can penetrate the global market if they produce quality produce.

The official said this last week in Senior Chief Mlumbe’s area in Zomba when the agency awarded K71.2 million to Mwandama Producers and Marketing Cooperative Union to improve their capacity to produce and market soya beans through training, technical assistance, provision of working capital, warehouse equipment and administrative support.

In her remarks, Jere said soya beans have the potential to transform the country’s economy.

Jere called on farmers to also invest in soya beans value addition processes instead of concentrating on the raw product.

The union’s president Luciano Mambo said the grant will help to address challenges that derailed the development of soya beans production in the district.

He cited lack of expertise, pests and diseases, poor storage facilities and lack of marketing skills.

“The grant has a component of market research which we will use in looking for potential markets at both local and international levels to enable farmers to profit,” said Mambo.

Zomba district crops officer McKenley Dupu said his office is committed to monitoring the crop regularly to ensure the grant benefits the farmers.