Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (Cropping Production) Davis Marapira said that they will push manufacturers to extract oil from maize seed to reduce money spent importing soya beans.
Said Marapira:
We can’t continue importing soya beans when we have enough maize and will push companies to reconsider extracting edible oil from maize.
Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe president Busisa Moyo said producing cooking oil using maize can still be done but local firms would need to invest in appropriate technology. Said Moyo:
Some years back, we used to produce cooking oil from maize and it can still be done. But the technology that most companies have can only do soya beans. It means companies will have to invest in appropriate technology. It also has to be done in a manner that will not compromise food security.
More: Herald