11th April 2023 9:29:57 AM
2 mins readGovernment will invest an estimated US$108 million to improve soybean production/best practices, as well as developing the grain’s value chain to curb post-harvest losses over the next five years.
0
The investment is in line with key resolutions of the recently held Dakar II Summit in Senegal and is expected to expand certified seed production to 17,500 metric tonnes yearly – and also develop 50,000 hectares of new land for soybean production.
1
It is anticipated that soybean cultivation will increase from the current 218,000 tonnes per year to 400,000 metric tonnes annually, and contribute to a yield upsurge of 40 percent after the investment.
2
Chief Director at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Robert Ankobia – who revealed this to the B&FT, said the move is to achieve self-sufficiency in soybean production for the domestic market by expanding cultivation and increasing competitiveness in the value chain.
3
MoFA says US$21million of the amount will be expended on research and development programmes to develop early-maturing, high-yielding soybean varieties; high pod clearance varieties for mechanisation; and maintenance-breeding of existing varieties.
4
US$63million will go into land development programmes for soybean production, with a special focus on new land for rain-fed soybean market-oriented production.
5
The remaining US$24 million will augment investment in harvest and post-harvest programmes to increase soybean quality, increase processing and reduce physical losses. This will be a key part of government’s Agriculture Mechanisation Service Centres’ (AMSEC) strategy.
6
“The above plan to invest in the local soybean value chain is part of pathways and one of the country’s key compacts during the Dakar II Summit to attain self-sufficiency and agrifood transformation over the next five years,” Mr. Ankobia said.
7
Important features of the compact include the prioritisation of key sub-sectors with the highest impact on food security, with key consideration for other commodities such as rice and poultry.
8
Overall, the compact focuses on production expansion and loss reduction in the country’s food value chain.
9
10
2 mins read
2 mins read
2 mins read
2 mins read
2 mins read
2 mins read
2 mins read
2 mins read
2 mins read