Nigeria produces 1.35m metric tonnes of soybeans annually – Minister
By Doris Esa
The Federal Government says Nigeria currently produces about 1.35 million metric tonnes of soybeans annually, just half of the country’s domestic demand.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the unveiling of the National Soybean Production and Expansion Policy and Strategy.
According to the minister, the new policy targets annual industry revenue of N3.9 trillion and the creation of one million farm and off-farm jobs across 22 states and the FCT.
He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which placed agriculture at the heart of economic transformation.
“Nigeria produces approximately 1.35 million metric tonnes of soybeans annually, yet national demand exceeds 2.7 million metric tonnes.
“This supply gap presents both a challenge and an opportunity to expand production, strengthen processing capacity, and create jobs,” Kyari said.
He described soybeans as a nutritional powerhouse, noting its 40 per cent high-quality protein content and essential amino acids, crucial in fighting malnutrition and improving diets.
Kyari also emphasised Nigeria’s advantage in the global market, citing the country’s naturally non-GMO soybeans, which were in high demand across Europe and Asia.
“By boosting local production, we reduce dependence on imported feed, support our poultry and aquaculture industries, and build a resilient, self-sufficient food system,” he added.
The minister officially inaugurated the Nigerian Soybean Partnership, which he said would bring together federal and state governments, private sector players, and farmer cooperatives to drive implementation.
Also speaking, Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue State described the policy inaugurated as “historic” and transformative.
He said it would reposition Nigeria as a global agricultural powerhouse and stimulate rural development.
“This is more than a policy; it’s a national transformation that promises prosperity and hope.
“Benue, the food basket of the nation, stands at the centre of this vision,” Alia said.
He announced that Benue’s Soybean Seed Multiplication and Distribution Programme would benefit more than 200,000 farmers in the next three years, increasing yields from 1.2 to 3 metric tonnes per hectare. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Abiemwense Moru
Published By
Has also recently published
SportsJuly 24, 2025Beach Volleyball: Nigeria has the capacity to host global tournaments, Nimrod says
SportsJuly 24, 2025UFAK: Karate has developed in Africa, says official
PoliticsJuly 24, 2025Tinubu urges APC chairman, governors to prioritise grassroots development
PoliticsJuly 24, 2025PDP NEC fixes national elective convention for Nov. 15 in Ibadan
