HomeOld_PostsSoya bean models for sustainable production ...scaling up Command Agriculture

Soya bean models for sustainable production …scaling up Command Agriculture

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By Prof Sheunesu Mpepereki and Eng Raymond Munyaradzi Nazare

IN our previous discussion on sustainable agricultural production models, we showed that the farmer is the central pillar on whom all other value chain actors revolve.
We advocated full technical support and training for farmers as their failure will lead to the collapse of the whole agricultural system.
In this episode, we explore sustainable models for soya bean production.
It must be appreciated that generating surplus (profit) is the primary source of motivation for farmers and non-farmers (external entities) to engage in producing targeted crops/products.
The same applies for soya beans.
In that vein, a viable agricultural sector must improve the financial security of farmers as well as external entities so that they will want to continue to re-invest in the soya bean value chain.
Sustained growth of the soya bean sector will depend on operational models and appropriate markets which ensure viability of the sector and therefore continued attraction of investment.
The viability of farm-based enterprises must therefore form the basis for Government efforts to generate policies and strategies for sustained growth of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector.
Such policies must be holistic, targeting both the material requirements as well as the human capacity in terms of skills and knowledge to produce the required crops or livestock.
For soya bean, as indeed should be the case for all other crops, the broad concept is to focus on creating highly viable soya bean production models.
The key variables affecting cost and yields must first be identified.
Strategies and interventions for limiting production component costs such as fertilisers, seed, herbicides and mechanisation must be collected, analysed and synthesised to achieve the lowest possible production costs.
Thus, strategies and interventions for optimising yield are identified, analysed and synthesised.
Each production model is broken down into its key components.
The next critical stage is to identify and address the infrastructural, equipment, consumable materials, training and timing requirements of the whole enterprise.
All these tasks must be carried out meticulously to minimise wastage of expensive inputs through ignorance, inefficiency or malfunctioning equipment.
The major challenge for increasing productivity of soya beans and other crops on Zimbabwean farms is availability and access to appropriate equipment.
This is achieved through targeting multiple factors; low procurement cost, low operational cost, high capacity and precision equipment that is suited to the establishment, protection and harvesting of the soya bean crop.
It is critical to ensure that the capacity for crop establishment is directly linked to that for crop protection and maintenance as well as harvesting.
This approach will promote flexibility, timeliness and low cost mechanisation.
A good rainfall event goes to waste and compromises yields if, for example, a planter is unavailable or if hand-planting, the pace is so slow that soils are already too dry for germination to occur.
In our Zimbabwean context, we will need to revisit and rationalise the distribution and ownership models for the required equipment to ensure viable and sustainable operation.
In this regard, the possible use of private sector-based service providers equipped with low cost two-wheel tractor-based precision planters for soya beans must be considered.
The University of Zimbabwe has already made strides in developing and testing such equipment targeted at small-to-medium-scale farmers who constitute the majority of resettled commercial farmers.
After equipment, consumable inputs are the next major component of the production model for soya bean.
We can look at the main inputs in turn. Fuel has not been included here.
Fertilisers are a key input.
There is need to review new technologies in the fertiliser industry such as use of double D and black urea to achieve low transport costs and low fertiliser costs per unit area.
The planning authorities and technical experts may then have to guide the local suppliers to focus on these variants as well as influencing pricing, given the significant quantities required by programmes such as Command Agriculture under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-ASSET) Food and Nutrition Security cluster.
Next comes seed, the most important input in the value chain.
Seed varieties will need to be reviewed with respect to yield potential and other agronomic attributes given the irrigated and rain-fed production options.
The planning authorities can also influence the seed pricing to ensure that soya bean does not remain the preserve of a few elite farmers.
Rhizobium inoculants are an integral part of the soya bean production system.
They require special handling, so farmers need to be trained.
The use of inoculant is justified on the basis that it removes the need to use top dressing nitrogen fertiliser, which is expensive in terms of material, transport and application costs.
The capacity of the rhizobium inoculant factory owned by the Ministry of Agriculture, to produce sufficient quantities of quality inoculant must be reviewed to ensure that sufficient quantities are availed to farmers.
This aspect is particularly important given that pricing of rhizobium inoculant is low cost in soya beans and is of the order of US$5ha compared to an equivalent of US$120/ha for ammonium nitrate (AN) to supply the same nitrogen fertiliser benefit.
Herbicides for weed control are extremely important to ensure farmers produce high yields of soya, not ‘sorry’ beans.
There is need to review and select appropriate herbicides whose key attributes should include low cost per hectare, potential for being combined with other herbicides to lower application costs and effectiveness.
Training to impart relevant skills and knowledge is critical, given that soya bean is a relatively new crop whose production requires a lot of technical knowledge.
This aspect must be adequately budgeted for to ensure participating farmers make the best use of the inputs provided.
Training in soya bean production should target extension staff, farmers, agri-business bank staff as well as policy-makers and other value chain actors.
In developing the soya production models, there is need to deal with each step of the production cycle including production costs per tonne.
Each step must be dealt with, covering input requirements and their types, application rates and so on.
The models for soya bean production must be created to target small and large farmers depending on the forms of mechanisation adopted and access to irrigation infrastructure.
The adoption of no-till based production models should combine low cost tractors and planting/spraying/fertiliser distribution equipment, high yielding soya varieties, inoculant, low basal cost fertilisers and herbicides.
Any serious attempt at scaling up soya bean production for national self-sufficiency must be premised on adequate mechanisation of key processes such as planting, pest control and harvesting.
Development of appropriate mechanisation models is best achieved by targeting equipment operators and supervisors.
Intensive training should focus on calibration, operation and maintenance of mechanisation inputs.
This will reduce the size of the ‘African equipment graveyard’.
The latter is in reference to the phenomenon of large numbers of equipment imported into Africa which lie idle because of limited capacity to operate, repair and maintain.
To ensure a successful soya bean season, the logistics and timing must be optimised.
A production calendar must be prepared for the soya bean crop, including cash flows, and extrapolated to incorporate area to be cropped.
Like a football team, farmers also need technical support services and appropriate infrastructures.
The technical support team will, among other things, review and advise farmers on issues relating to seed, fertiliser, herbicide, inoculant, mechanisation and inputs importation/local manufacturer capacity.
Technical and advisory support personnel will revisit distribution and use/application-based support services and infrastructure for all production inputs.
This aspect is particularly important as the majority of Zimbabwe’s farmers have very limited experience with soya bean production.
In our next instalment on cropping models for sustainable agricultural productivity, we shall look at production models for small-holder soya bean production with particular focus on reducing cost of production.

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