Unlocking the true potential of soybean farming in Ghana
A ground-breaking initiative aimed at enhancing Ghana's soybean production and addressing food and nutrition security challenges was launched today at an event attended by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr Bryan Acheampong, the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mochizuki Hisanobu, FAO Representative in Ghana, Yurdi Yasmi and key stakeholders.
The initiative is funded by the Government of Japan and seeks to improve smallholder farmers’ productivity through increased access to better production and post-harvest technologies, and support for land development.
Ghana's soybean production potential stands at an impressive 700,000 tonnes per year. However, only about 26 percent of this potential is being realized. The cultivation area covers an estimated 102,000 hectares of the 250,000 hectares of land suitable for production countrywide. This discrepancy has resulted in a substantial shortfall in meeting local demand. Compounding the problem, restrictions and disruptions to the importation of soy products due to COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have affected the economy including poultry, aquaculture and livestock production.
“The project is well aligned to the overall goal of Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs phase two (PFJ 2.0) which seeks to transform agriculture value chains for economic development with active private-sector participation in eleven commodities including soybean,” said Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Bryan Acheampong.
“I appreciate the fact that this project effectively contributes to the improvement of Ghana’s food security as it aims to increase land productivity and improve post-harvest crop management,” said the Ambassador of Japan to Ghana H.E. Mochizuki Hisanobu.
"We urgently require strategic investments in soybean value chains with a strong emphasis on harnessing the power of technology, science and innovation to maximize production and resilience. Additionally, we must prioritize the development of enabling policies and regulations to drive progress. Let's unite and take decisive action to revolutionize the soybean industry and unlock its full potential,” said FAO Representative in Ghana, Yurdi Yasmi.