The Grain Marketing Board expects to sponsor the production of 8 000 tonnes of soya beans ahead of the launch of its Norton Stockfeeds Plant in Norton early next year.

The parastatal would contract farmers in Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central provinces.The provinces are the chief soya bean producing areas in Zimbabwe.

Outlining the GMB's preparedness for the 2012/13 summer cropping season, GMB chairman Mr Charles Chikaura said a total of 4 000 hectares will be put under soya bean.

"GMB has engaged possible financiers to bankroll this project," he said.

The soya beans are an important ingredient used in the manufacturing of stockfeeds. Mr Chikaura said the company has increased production due to the establishment of the processing plant in Norton. The company also contracts farmers to produce, sorghum, millet, sugar beans, groundnuts and sunflower.

Irrigation is a basic requirement for a farmer willing to enter into contract farming with the company. The Grain Marketing Board was established in 1931 in response to the 1930 world recession.

Its main purpose, which has largely remained the same over the seven decades, is to ensure food security in Zimbabwe with particular reference to staple food products, namely, maize and wheat.