PROJECT # 0039

Zimbabwe, Establishment of a Soybean and Sunflower Oil Processing Plant with a View to Address the Increasing Demand in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia

Oilico Processing is a partnership between Mrs Phylis Fungai Banhwa, a well-seasoned farmer in Zimbabwe, and Mrs Shingirai Florence Chamisa involved in entrepreneurial and agricultural projects in rural areas in South Africa. Both partners hold advanced university degrees.

The project aims at setting up a soybean and sunflower processing plant to produce edible soybean and sunflower oil with a view to address the increasing demand in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia. Oilico Processing intends to sell 7,000,000 litres of cooking oil per year within Zimbabwe and 5,000,000 litres in other SADC countries. The project is based on the involvement of farmers in Murewa and surrounding districts, through contractual agriculture and supervision of the production by agriculture extension staff, to secure the production of soya bean and sunflower. A pre-feasibility study was undertaken and includes an assessment of the investment required, functioning costs and estimated RoI and cash flow requirements.