Kumbuka: Zimbabwe is in talks about a potential $100m loan facility to support oilseeds farmers in the southern African country and boost production, especially of soy. Sakunda Energy, a closely held Zimbabwean energy and logistics company, has agreed to contribute $48.7m of the funds, and the rest would be provided by the government, according to Zimbabwe Oil Seed Producers’ Association President Busisa Moyo. Sakunda didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.
Zimbabwe is seeking to expand its Command Agriculture program, which provides financing and subsidized materials to corn farmers, into other sectors and include private-sector funds, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said in an interview. The added support for oilseed farmers would help reduce Zimbabwe’s dependence on imports of the seeds and edible oils, he said. About half of the proposed funding would be used for irrigation infrastructure .
