Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
Soya Beans is a versatile legume, soybeans are a common cash crop that produces twice the yield per acre of most other vegetables or grains, according to the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (Kalro). .
Soybeans constitutes a considerable percentage of most human and animal foods, as well as a variety of fuels and non-food industrial products.
Some companies, such as Western Seed Company, sell certified soybeans, but the cost is often out of reach for many smallholders.
Types of Soya Beans - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
The most common types of soya-beans in Kenya are Nyala, Hill, Black Hawk, Gazelle and EAI 3600, which have been used in the country for a long time.
They were officially launched and registered in April 2009 by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate, targeting specific growing areas.
Land Preparation - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
Soybeans are a warm season crop. It grows well in fertile, well-drained clay soils. Land preparation for soybeans should be done with a suitable plow followed by a ladder.
Soybeans are best suited to areas with 300mm to 1200mm of rain. Soils should be deep, well-drained and have a pH of 5 to 6.
â–ª Plow the soil early to allow for moisture conservation and weed control. The bed must be properly prepared and Remove all weeds, especially couch grass, Kikuyu grass, etc.
â–ª Plow crop residues and vegetation to improve soil fertility. Break up large clods and level.
â–ª It is recommended to test the soil for the state of acidity/alkalinity
â–ª Where the soil is acidic, agricultural limestone may be necessary. Up to 5 bags (250 kg) are introduced per acre.
Types of Soybeans - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
(a) Soya Bean Varieties Recommended for Various Areas
The most common types of soya-beans in Kenya are Nyala, Hill, Black Hawk, Gazelle and EAI 3600, which have been used in the country for a long time.
They were officially launched and registered in April 2009 by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate, targeting specific growing areas.
|
Description |
Area |
Varieties |
|
Warm temperature
areas |
Homabay, Mitunguu |
Duicker, EAI3600
& Nyara |
|
Moderate
temperature areas |
Bukura, Kakamega, Kitale, Embu |
SCS-1, Duiker, Nyala &Gaselle |
|
Cool temperature
areas |
Bahati(Nakuru),
Baraton, Njoro, Menengai. |
Sabie, SCI-1, Nyara
& Gazelle |
|
Marginal rainfull
areas |
Matayos, Gachoka, Malueni. Ol-Rongai |
Gazelle, EAI3600, Nyala & Gazelle |
Characteristic of Soya beans Types - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
|
Description |
Area |
Varieties |
|
Warm temperature
areas |
Homabay, Mitunguu |
Duicker, EAI3600
& Nyara |
|
Moderate
temperature areas |
Bukura, Kakamega, Kitale, Embu |
SCS-1, Duiker, Nyala &Gaselle |
|
Cool temperature
areas |
Bahati(Nakuru),
Baraton, Njoro, Menengai. |
Sabie, SCI-1, Nyara
& Gazelle |
|
Marginal rainfull
areas |
Matayos, Gachoka, Malueni. Ol-Rongai |
Gazelle, EAI3600, Nyala & Gazelle |
Ecological Requirements- Soya beans farming in Kenya
(a) Rainfall - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
Soybeans are moderately drought tolerant and require a minimum of 400mm of well-distributed rainfall during the vegetative growth period of 3-4 months. The high moisture requirement is critical at the time of germination, flowering and pod formation. Short-lived varieties are recommended in areas where soybeans are produced under rainfed conditions. However, dry weather is necessary for maturation.
(b) Temperatures - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
Soybeans grow well in warm, humid conditions. For good germination, the soil temperature must be above 15°C and for growth between 20 and 250°C.
(c) Soils - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
Soybeans can grow in a wide variety of soils, but grows best in sandy, clay, and fertile alluvial soils. Soils should be well-drained, fertile and rich in calcium with a pH between 5.6 and 7.0.
(d) Altitude - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
Soybean behaves well between 0 and 2000 m altitude. At elevations above 2,000m, late maturing varieties take up to 180 days (6 months) but produce longer than early maturing varieties.
Planting - Growing soybeans in Kenya
(a) Seed Viability and Treatment - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
â–ª Soybeans lose viability within 6-10 months of harvest, depending on the variety and environmental conditions, especially in hot and humid conditions.
â–ª It is recommended to use certified seeds
â–ª If you are going to sow your own seeds, choose seeds from a healthy crop, which should not be subject to mechanical damage or disease. However, do not recycle the seed for more than 3 seasons.
â–ª Before planting, cover the seeds with the recommended chemical, e.g. Lindano, Gaucho FS350, Star apron.
â–ª Test seed viability before planting. Plant 100 seeds and if more than 75% germinate, viability is acceptable.
How to Start Soya-beans farming in Kenya
Soya beans farming in Kenya can thrive in hot climatic conditions with minimal rainfall. However, the bean variety is known to survive extreme temperatures. The survival trait has made it reliable and most preferred for Kenyan cereals.
One acre of land can use 20 kg of soybeans with proper spacing between seeds and rows. Planting soybeans in rows can provide enough space for the farmer to move around while tending to the seeds.
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya - Planting
Use the recommended variety at a seeding rate of 20 to 30 kg per acre. Plant at a depth of 2.5 to 5 centimeters. The soil must be sufficiently moist and warm at the time of sowing. Plant manually at a distance of 45 cm by 10 cm. Mechanized planting should be carried out at a distance of 30 cm by 15 cm.
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya -n Spacing
The space between the rows can be from 25 to 90 cm. The smaller the row spacing, the higher the yield, but the yield advantage is not large (about 5-10%). The wider the row, the closer the seeds are in the row, which sometimes helps, especially for emergence in soils that tend to clog (surface sealing). Do not plant the seeds more than 5 cm deep. Be careful not to plant the soybean in such a way that when it is covered with soil, it stays in the furrow; instead, the soil should form a small mound above the row, as this makes it easier for seedlings to emerge. It is essential not to plant too deeply.
The seed should be planted 25-50mm deep, depending on the texture of the soil. If a crust forms on the soil before emergence, moistening the soil with irrigation or breaking the crust with a "centipede tool" will improve emergence.
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya - Fertilizers
Soybeans can use atmospheric nitrogen, but it is not enough, so the crop receives 10-15% of the total nitrogen requirement. Potassium is only needed if a deficiency is observed,
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya - Irrigation
Soya beans farming in Kenya are generally grown under rain fed conditions. If grown in the dry season, they require five to six irrigation cycles.
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya - Weed Control
When Soya Beans Farming in Kenya on a small scale, weeding can be done two or three times during the growing season.
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya - Pest Control
Pests include caterpillars, aphids, leafhoppers, antestia bugs, beetles and mites. These can be controlled with appropriate pesticides available at agricultural input outlets.
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya - Common Diseases
They include rust, wet spot, septoria, soybean mosaic virus, fusarium, frog eye bacterial blight and charcoal rot. To combat diseases, use prepared seeds for planting. Spray with appropriate fungicides if disease symptoms are detected. Remove diseased plants, practice crop rotation and use resistant varieties.
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya - Harvesting.
The soybeans are ready to harvest when all the leaves drop, the pods turn brown and the seeds make a clicking noise when the plants are shaken.
Cut the stems at ground level, leave them in the sun for a while, thresh them by hand when they are ready or store them in a well-ventilated place before threshing. Mechanized harvesting can be done for erect varieties with pod spacing greater than 15 cm.
Soya Beans Farming In Kenya : It's Not as Difficult as You Think
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya - Yield
KARI Released Varieties of Soya Beans
|
Variety |
Suitable Areas |
Maturity/Days |
Yield |
Oil % |
|
932/5/34 |
0 – 2000 |
4 -5 |
1.5 - 3 |
24 |
|
DPSB19 |
900-2400 |
3-4 |
0.6-1.7 |
17 |
|
DPSB8 |
900-2400 |
4-5 |
0.6-1.7 |
18 |
|
Nyala |
1200-2400 |
4-4.5 |
1.2-2.5 |
19 |
|
Gazelle |
1200-2400 |
4-5 |
0.8-2.5 |
22 |
|
Hill |
1200-=2400 |
3.5-4.5 |
0.8-2.5 |
21 |
|
Black Hawk |
900-2400 |
4-5 |
0.8-1.8 |
18 |
|
A13600 |
800-1700 |
4-5 |
0.5-2.5 |
18 |
It produces an average yield of 800-1200 kg per hectare. And
Soya Beans Price in Kenya - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
The price per kilo varies from 80 to 130 sh. However, in certain seasons, especially during shortages, prices can reach 160 shillings.
Soy is also canned or packaged in plain foods, such as the now common Sossi from the company Promasidor.
The shortage is so severe that companies like BIDCO have resorted to hiring farmers to do
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya and supply them with the crop, giving them a ready market.
Bidco Africa, a multinational consumer goods company, for example, is looking for 25,000 farmers to grow sunflowers and soybeans to stem shortages of the two staples used in oil production.
The company currently has 25,000 contract farmers supplying 5,000 metric tons of sunflower and soybeans against a demand of 10,000 metric tons per year.
“As part of this, the company will hire farmers, offer technical support and analyze the market once the harvest is ready," said the company's agribusiness manager.
Bidco Africa says the local partnership with farmers aims to empower smallholder farmers, who make up about 70% of the population, by giving them access to reliable markets to transform their lives.
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya – Benefits
Soy can be grown and used for food and feed. Domestic and industrial markets are expanding. The same thing happens with the use of soybeans in soil improvement and crop rotation programs.
#1. Nutrition: Soy is an excellent source of farm-grown protein. It is a source of omega three essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins.
Advantages - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
As demand for soybeans continues to rise amid pent-up production, farmers in low rainfall areas like Machakos, Kitui, Turkana and Makueni can harvest over 170,000 leaves per acre in three months with the SB19 variety.
Kenya needs about 70,000 metric tons a year, but the supply barely reaches 15,000 metric tons.
Most soybean varieties require sufficient rainfall for optimal yields, but Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Institute (KALRO) SB19 can withstand little rain.
SB19 is drought tolerant. Between 850 kg and 1000 kg per acre can be harvested. It needs moisture during two critical times: seeding and flowering.
For one acre, a farmer needs about 20 kg to plant, and each costs 250 Ksh when obtained from KALRO.
A kilo of soya costs between 150 and 200 Ksh, or even more depending on the buyer and the production area. If a farmer harvests a minimum of 850 kg from an acre, he can earn up to Sh170,000 after selling a pound for Sh200.
Conclusion - Soya Beans Farming in Kenya
Soya Beans Farming in Kenya has contributed significantly to the economic situation of the country. Soya beans have been shown to be the most nutritious among bean varieties. Soya Beans Farming in Kenya has improved the financial situation of most farmers and helped Kenyans meet their dietary needs for plant protein.
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