Is soybean a commercial crop in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a non-native and non-staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with potential to be a commercial crop owing to its wide range of uses as food, feed, and industrial raw material.
Which countries produce the most soybeans in Africa?
In 2016, South Africa (2290 kg ha 1) and Zambia (1940 kg ha 1) had the highest average yields, followed by Nigeria (960 kg ha 1) and Uganda (600 kg ha 1) in SSA. During the last two decades, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda have maintained their positions as leading soybean-producing countries in the region.
Which countries have a potential for soybean production & use?
South Africa and Nigeria offer the best examples in SSA of the potential for soybean production and use. Soybean production has increased dramatically, from 84,000 t in 1987 to 1,320,000 t in 2016 in South Africa and from 40,000 t in 1987 to 680,000 t in 2016 in Nigeria ( Fig. 2 ). Fig. 1.
What causes low soybean yield in South Africa?
The low soybean yield in SSA can be attributed to the use of poor-performing varieties and to the limited application of fertilizers and rhizobial inoculants in soils with no history of soybean production. South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, and Uganda are the leading soybean producers in SSA.