Some farmers in Bulawayo’s peri-urban farming areas have abandoned maize production this season in favour of soya beans, citing attractive market prices and more reliable payment systems.
Farmers who spoke to CITE said competitive prices offered by private buyers coupled with efficient payment methods have enticed many plot holders around Bulawayo to venture into soya bean production.
One of the farmers who successfully planted soya beans at his plot in Esigodini is Langton Gwete.
“This year I tried soya beans for the first time on my plot after suffering years of frustration with the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) which has not fully paid me for maize deliveries since 2025. Over the years, GMB has consistently delayed payments to maize farmers, often taking months to settle deliveries, leaving many producers financially strained,” he said.
“With soya beans, I already have buyers promising on-the-spot payment as soon as I complete harvesting. That assurance alone gives a farmer peace of mind,” he said.
During the 2023/2024 marketing season, farmers were able to fetch around US$520 per tonne for soya beans on the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange.
Gwete, however noted that soya bean production comes with its own challenges.
“Soya beans are a real money spinner but they are capital intensive. The crop requires more water than maize and other cash crops such as cotton and the chemicals needed for spraying are quite expensive,” he noted. “You must be prepared financially before you venture into it.”
Edmore Ndlovu, a resettled farmer along Airport Road also experimented with the crop this season under a contract farming arrangement.
“The seed is very expensive even though the returns are promising. A local company from Harare contracted me and other farmers to produce soya beans. By mid-March or end of March we should be harvesting our crop. We are hopeful but farmers have been disappointed before.”
He called on the government to introduce clear regulations to protect farmers entering contract farming agreements.
“There is growing interest among investors in soya bean production which is positive. But we need a proper regulatory framework that ensures farmers fully understand contract terms and are protected from unfair practices.”
Another peri-urban farmer, Thabani Moyo said shifting to soya beans was a strategic decision driven by market realities.
“Maize used to be our staple crop but without guaranteed payment, it became a gamble. With soya beans, buyers come to the farm, weigh the produce and pay promptly. That cash flow allows us to reinvest immediately into the next season.”
Moyo added that demand for stock feed and cooking oil has increased the crop’s appeal.
“The demand is strong because soya beans are used in stock feeds and cooking oil production. As farmers, we are responding to what the market wants,” he said.
Similarly, Nomsa Dube, a small-scale farmer in Nyamandlovu said soya beans had transformed her outlook on farming.
“For years I struggled to break even with maize,” she recalled.
“This season, I dedicated half of my land to soya beans and the difference is clear. Even after accounting for input costs, the profit margin is far better. If the payment comes on time as promised, I will expand my hectarage next season.”
Dube, however also echoed concerns about high input costs and access to affordable irrigation.
“We need support in accessing cheaper seed and irrigation equipment. If those challenges are addressed more farmers will confidently shift to soya beans,” she said.
The Grain Marketing Board is currently offering around US$376 per tonne for maize, a price many farmers say does not adequately compensate for rising input costs, especially given the persistent delays in payments over the years.
As more farmers pivot from maize to soya beans, agricultural stakeholders say the trend reflects a broader shift toward market-driven production where profitability and timely payments are increasingly shaping cropping decisions in Zimbabwe’s peri-urban farming communities.
In drought-prone Matabeleland, many farmers are also increasingly turning to other cash crops such as tobacco seeking better returns and more reliable markets amid changing climatic conditions.
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