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.

The project falls under FAO’s wider support to Ghana to develop its soybean value chain through One Country, One Priority Product (OCOP), an initiative developed by FAO to support countries across Africa and around the world to develop green value chains for special agricultural products.

Growing the soybean sector in Ghana

Northern Ghana produces approximately 96 percent of the country's soybean but average yields remain low, at around 3 tonnes per hectare. This is attributed to poor land development, limited availability and access to inputs such as fertilizer, and poor soil fertility. The Support to Soybean 

Development Programme in Ghana will transform the soybean industry, ensuring increased productivity, improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers, and enhanced food and nutrition security. By harnessing the expertise and experiences of all stakeholders involved, the project endeavours to create a transformative impact on soybean production in the country.

Support to farmers with inputs and other production resources is in the form of inputs credit and a matching grant which is in line with the Enhanced Planting for Food and Jobs of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).

During today’s launch, stakeholders from various institutions and agencies involved in the soybean value chain discussed the project's expected deliverables and activities. The event fostered collaboration, partnerships, and the sharing of experiences among key stakeholders, which can contribute to a successful implementation of the project.