By Zivanai Dhewa

…As presidential Input Scheme beneficiaries choose to export

Stockfeed Manufacturers Association (SMA) has ascribed the high pricing of their stockfeed produce to the high cost of raw materials from the oil expressers, the Harare Post has learnt.

A source within the SMA who preferred anonymity revealed that the high pricing of locally manufactured stock feed was due to the questionable conduct of oil expressers.

“Oil expressers deprive local stock feed producers of cotton seed, which is a by-product from expressed cotton seed.

“Actually they prefer to export at prices lower than those offered on the domestic market,” said the source.

The source added, “Cottco which supplies over 90% of cotton seed, has standing arrangements with these oil expressers to buy all the seed to express for oil.

“This arrangement deprives SMA members access to the seed to produce cake of their choice, this forces stock feed producers to import more expensive alternatives, which is putting upward pressure on stock feed prices,” bemoaned the source.

Making reference to the benefits of the Presidential Input Scheme, the source said, “Since Cottco is sponsored through the Government’s Presidential Input Scheme, equal access to the seed should be granted, to enhance downstream industries.”

Meanwhile, statistics from the Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (ZIMSTAT) indicate that oil expressers export the cotton cake at about US$270 per metric tonne which is lower than the US$300 per tonne charged locally.