East Africa moves to boost soybean yields and cut costly imports

EASTERN AFRICA – A regional project has kicked off in East Africa to help increase soybean production, lower import bills, and support local agribusinesses by creating better soybean varieties that meet market needs.

Led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project brings together Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia to build a strong soybean breeding network.

The goal is to help farmers grow more soybeans and meet the growing demand for protein-rich foods and animal feed.

Soybeans are important for food, livestock feed, and edible oil. Yet, East Africa still produces far below its potential. Despite good weather and farming conditions, the region’s average yield stands at just 1.26 metric tonnes per hectare, far below the global average of 2.76.

In 2022, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania imported over 129,000 metric tonnes of soy-based products worth about US$84 million. Kenya alone grows enough soybeans to meet only one percent of its yearly demand. This gap highlights the need for urgent action.

“The goal is not just to improve breeding programs country by country,” said Dr. Lennin Musundire, the project leader. “It is to create a cohesive regional engine for soybean innovation, one that’s aligned with market needs and built to serve both farmers and processors.”

Through the East African Soybean Breeding Network, researchers, seed companies, universities, and private sector partners will work together to create high-quality soybean varieties.

These will be designed to suit different markets based on needs like oil and protein content, resistance to disease, drought tolerance, and early maturity.

Market-driven breeding with farmers in mind

The first phase of the project focuses on building national teams in each country. These teams include farmers, seed producers, agro-dealers, researchers, nutrition experts, and others.

They will identify what local markets want and guide how new soybean types are developed.

This approach aims to solve key problems farmers face, such as poor seed quality and limited access to varieties that grow well in their areas. By sharing knowledge and seed resources across countries, the project hopes to reduce delays in getting new seeds to farmers and speed up overall improvement.

Strong regional partnerships for long-term gains

The project also fits into a wider trend of regional support for agricultural development. Earlier this year, Kenya’s President William Ruto announced plans for the African Agricultural Transformation Initiative, which focuses on soil health and crop productivity across Africa.

In a separate but related effort, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania are part of the Accelerated Breeding Initiative, a program focused on cutting the time it takes to develop and share improved seeds for major food crops, including soybean.

As these programs move forward, they offer a rare chance to bring long-term change to the way soybean is grown and used in East Africa.

“This is about working together, not just within countries, but across them,” said Dr. Musundire. “That’s how we build a strong base for future food security and local industry growth.”

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