Arooj Zulfiqar

Amid the growing economic and environmental challenges, promoting soybean cultivation in Pakistan emerges as a vital solution to enhance soil fertility, reduce import dependency, and significantly boost farmers' income, reports WealthPK.

“Despite its global importance, soybean remains an underutilized crop in Pakistan, with domestic production meeting only a fraction of the growing demand,” said Nazakat Nawaz, Principal Scientific Officer at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). He emphasized the need to prioritize soybean cultivation as a means to address the economic and agricultural challenges. With Pakistan heavily reliant on imports to meet its demand for edible oil, the country faces a mounting import bill, further straining its already fragile economy. Despite ecological diversity, suitable climate, and vast fertile land, Pakistan is unfortunately among the lowest edible oil-producing countries. Only 30% of the domestic oil needs are satisfied by local production, with the remaining 70% coming from imports.

The cost of importing edible oil into Pakistan has surpassed $4 billion annually to meet the pressing demand of its population. “To cut its import bills, Pakistan needs to focus on large-scale edible oil production. This will help us save a significant amount of foreign currency. The potential crops which can reduce our import bill are rapeseed sunflower and soybean,” he said. “Soybean naturally enhances soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, reducing the need for costly synthetic fertilizers. By incorporating soybeans into crop rotation systems, farmers can rejuvenate soil health and increase the yields of subsequent crops, such as wheat and maize. This approach aligns with sustainable agricultural practices, which aim to protect the environment while boosting productivity,” Nazakat said.

He said from an economic perspective, soybean cultivation offers significant potential to increase farmers' incomes. The global demand for soybean provides opportunities for local farmers to access profitable markets. Diversifying farming systems with soybeans can reduce financial vulnerabilities and provide an additional revenue stream for small-scale farmers. However, challenges such as the lack of high-yield varieties, limited processing facilities, and insufficient farmer awareness hinder the growth of soybean cultivation. Collaboration between the government and the private sector is crucial to overcoming these barriers. Subsidizing high-quality seeds, providing technical training, and establishing market linkages can encourage farmers to adopt soybean cultivation.

In this regard, federal minister for national food security & research has emphasized the importance of soybean cultivation for farmers’ financial benefit during the National Workshop on Soybean Production in Pakistan. Organized by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Islamabad, the event aimed to highlight the potential advantages of soybean crops for Pakistani farmers. He highlighted that soybean, due to their short growth cycle, offers a highly profitable option for farmers. Emphasizing the crop's global importance in trade and economy, he advocated introducing financial incentives to promote soybean cultivation.

Credit: INP-WealthPk