The Oilseeds Commodity Committee held a meeting on 22nd February 2011 and this was immediately followed by a Soya beans Stakeholders Meeting. The Oilseeds Committee reviewed the 2010/2011 Soya beans estimates of the area planted and the effects of poor seed germination/re-planting in some cases.
Production estimates were done based on area under irrigation where yields were expected to be good and rain-fed areas. Although a complete picture will only emerge after the comprehensive crop forecast is finished, indications are that the area under soya beans cultivation was much higher in 2010/2011 than in 2009/2010 season, but production is expected to be lower in the 2011 harvest than in 2010 due to various factors.
During the Stakeholders meeting, the objective was to review the soya beans and soya cake stock situation in the country in order to determine whether the existing stocks were adequate for domestic consumption requirements. After reviewing the information presented by farmers and processors, it was resolved that the stocks available were enough to last until end of April in time for the new harvest. Farmers with drying facilities were encouraged to consider drying soya beans and sell early while prices were still good. The meeting also agreed to request the Agriculture Consultative Forum (ACF) to undertake a review aimed at determining the total national consumption requirements for soya beans.
