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Government is mulling a cocktail of measures to incentivise oil seed production that will feed the country’s oil expressers with adequate and affordable raw materials, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has said.

Some of the strategies include reviewing soya bean producer prices.

VP Chiwenga was speaking during a tour of Surface Wilmar’s plant in Chitungwiza on Wednesday.

He said crops like soya beans, sunflower and cotton would be included under Command Agriculture starting from the 2018-2019 season.

“This time around, soya beans was produced by A2 farmers, but we would want our 1,8 million small-scale farmers to come to this programme and produce soya beans,” he said.

“We are now generally agreed that our rural farmers and our A1 farmers in suitable areas will also be encouraged to grow these crops. Even if they produce an acre or half acre, we have no problem with that, as long as the crop is produced well.

“So, if we collect all that, we will have excess of what we want. I agree with you (Surface Wilmar) that it is not wise for us to import crude oil,” he                                                                                      said.

“We need to produce for ourselves. We have got the land and the expertise and I promise you come 2018-19, we will provide you with the required soya beans.” — Herald Reporter.