A multibillion cooking oil factory in Kayonza District, Mount Meru Syco, has been forced to operate under capacity due to shortage of soya bean.

Patel Brijesh, the chief finance officer, told Business Times, that part of the processing plant is currently closed as they wait for more supplies of 6,000 metric tonnes of soya bean to operate for at least one month.

The factory last week managed to secure 3,000 metric tonnes of the raw materials, he said.

"We need about 200 metric tonnes of soya bean per day to operate at full capacity. The 3,000 metric tonnes we have in stock will last for only 15 days. It’s unfortunate farmers have not taken advantage of the market we are providing them,” Brijesh said.

The firm works with over 120 agro-dealers and co-operatives, but has yet to get enough supplies to sustain its operations due to the country’s low production of soya bean.

"Our plan is to export cooking oil to DR Congo and Burundi, however shortage of raw materials could hamper these plans,” Brijesh added.

Last season, only 2,000 metric tonnes of soya bean were harvested despite the plant’s capacity to produce 2,000 jerry cans of cooking oil per day.

The firm provides fertilisers to farmers through the Ministry of Agriculture to help improve crop productivity.

"We shall buy any mount of soybeans if farmers produce it,” Brijesh said.

Government to support project

Francois Kanimba, the Minister for Trade and Industry, said government is in the process of securing 3,000 hectares of land in the Eastern Province for soya bean farming to support the factory. 

"It (lack of raw materials) is a serious problem that affects many factories, including those processing cassava and maize. However, we are trying to come up with ways of improving production and the supply chain through enhanced linkages between farmers and processors,” he said.

We have done the same with rice industry, but it will require a lot of effort from all stakeholders, Kanimba added.

Bernard Musabyimana, the Koyiko Farmers’ Cooperative marketing director, said increasing soya bean production requires extensive use of fertilisers, and adoption of consolidated farming practices. "Land fragmentation is a big challenge; there is need to increase access to fertilisers, as well as equip farmers with the right technology to increase production,” Musabyimana said.

He said most farmers still use rudimentary farming tools, meaning they are producing below capacity.

Experts recently predicated increased productivity in major crops, including maize, beans, rice and soya bean in the districts of Eastern Province.

The forecasts were based on the ongoing post-harvest and agribusiness programme being implemented in 11 districts across the country.