Soya beans production in Ghana is expected to receive a boost as the government of Japan is investing an estimated US$600,000 into the sector in a bid to improve the cereal’s entire value chain in the country
According to the Ambassador of Japan to Ghana, Mochizuki Hisanobu, the project, which is part of the Ghana Food Systems Transformation Pathway
The Ambassador said the investment exemplifies Japan’s continuous effort to support agriculture in Ghana adding that partnership is aimed at tackling some primary constraints to the development of soya beans in Ghana, which include limited access to and lack of improved certified seeds; poor land preparation and access to mechanisation for land preparation; and lack of access to inoculants.
“Japan considers agriculture as one of the primary areas of support for Ghana, and the reason we support it is that the sector is closely connected to this country’s food security agenda,” Mr Hisanobu said.
The project is in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
FAO’s Regional Representative to Ghana, Dr Yurdi Yasmi, disclosed that the project which will support the country’s soya-bean value chain is in tandem with the UNFAO’s Global Action on Green Development of Special Agricultural Products, also known as ‘One Country, One Priority Product’ (OCOP).
Dr Yasmi emphasised the significance of soya-bean to the agrifood systems transformation of Ghana, as the legume has the potential to increase employment; increase incomes of rural communities; and contribute to the growth of the livestock and poultry sectors.
Under the project, Dr Yasmi indicated that the FAO will embark on massive capacity development, sensitisation and public education on the consumption of soya beans. According to him, this will contribute to increased consumption of nutritious foods and reduce malnutrition.
He added that his outfit will support MoFA in the Planting for Food and Jobs programme’s second phase to develop the agricultural sector.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, explained that the soya project forms an integral part of the PFJ phase two, as the government is determined to transform the agricultural value chain for economic growth with active private sector participation in eleven focal commodities, including soya to make the industry attractive to both local and foreign investors.
“The soya-bean intervention objective under the PFJ phase-two is aimed at increasing production to meet local demands, export and create employment for the youth,” Dr Acheampong said.
Local Soya Beans Market Value
According to the FAO, local consumption of soya-bean is in excess of 450,000 metric tonnes per annum, as the country imports soymeal worth US$ 30 million each year.
MoFA also estimates that in 2022, Ghana’s total soya-bean production and consumption was 255,209 metric tonnes.
However, Dr Acheampong is confident that the new soya beans project could increase production from a little over 255,000 tonnes to one million metric tonnes by 2027.
