Senegal: Soybean production gets a boost with US$108 million funding

Government will invest an estimated US$108million 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. 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. 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. Chief Director at 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. MoFA says US$21million of the amount will be expended on research and ...