Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
Final version of Tropical Legumes II Project Report for Phase 1 - icrisat
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3.5<br />
Yields (Tonnes/hectare)<br />
3.0<br />
2.5<br />
2.0<br />
1.5<br />
1.0<br />
0.5<br />
0.0<br />
70-79 80-89 90-99 00-09<br />
North Africa North America As ia Nigeria<br />
South Africa Uganda South America<br />
Source: Authors using FAO data<br />
Figure 11-2: Trends in Soybeans yield across the world (1970 – 2009)<br />
Soybean output increased significantly from an average <strong>of</strong> about 60 million MT in the 1970s to about<br />
200 million MT in the 2000s. In the last four decades, production has been growing at 4.7% per annum.<br />
In the 2000s, South America accounted <strong>for</strong> 90 million MT (44% <strong>of</strong> global production), followed by<br />
North America, which accounted <strong>for</strong> 82 million MT (41% <strong>of</strong> global production). Asia ranked third<br />
at 23 million MT (13% <strong>of</strong> global production). In South America, the major producers are Brazil and<br />
Argentina which account <strong>for</strong> 24% and 17% <strong>of</strong> global production. In North America, the United States<br />
accounts <strong>for</strong> almost all the output and produces about 40% <strong>of</strong> global production. Thus, the US, Brazil<br />
and Argentina account <strong>for</strong> over 80% <strong>of</strong> global production. Africa accounts <strong>for</strong> 1.2 million MT (about<br />
1% <strong>of</strong> global production) annually.<br />
In the last four decades South America had the highest average annual growth rate <strong>of</strong> 12% and succeeded<br />
in increasing its share <strong>of</strong> global production from 13% in the 1970s to 44% in the 2000s. North America<br />
which had the highest share <strong>of</strong> 68% in the 1970s grew at 4% and had a lower share <strong>of</strong> 41% by the<br />
2000s. Asia also experienced a reduction in its share from 16% in the 1970s to 13% in the 2000s. Africa<br />
with 8% annual growth rate increased its share from .3% in the 1970s to .6% in the 2000s. Thus there<br />
has not been any significant change in Africa’s share <strong>of</strong> world soybean output which has remained at<br />
less than 1% since the 1970s.<br />
Within Africa, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda account <strong>for</strong> about 43%, 22%, and 13% <strong>of</strong> its production<br />
respectively, implying that Nigeria is the continent’s leading soybean producer contributing about 0.5<br />
million MT <strong>of</strong> soybean to total world production. South Africa and Uganda produce about .3 and .2<br />
million MT respectively. These 3 countries account <strong>for</strong> about 80% <strong>of</strong> soybeans production in Africa.<br />
Among the 3, South Africa experienced the highest growth rate <strong>of</strong> 25% with production increasing from<br />
7,700 MT in 1970 to 516,000 in 2009. Uganda had a growth rate <strong>of</strong> 14% with production increasing<br />
from 5000 MT in 1970 to 180,000 in 2009. Nigeria also had a high growth rate <strong>of</strong> 9% with production<br />
increasing from 58000 MT in 1970 to 573,863 MT in 2009.<br />
In Nigeria, adaptation and successful incorporation <strong>of</strong> soybeans into the maize-based cropping system,<br />
local dishes, and family diets were instrumental to the increase in soybean production while development<br />
<strong>of</strong> simple methods <strong>of</strong> soybean processing <strong>for</strong> home consumption also played a key role just like the response<br />
to the needs <strong>of</strong> local markets, supported by pr<strong>of</strong>itability. Benue State, in Nigeria has the longest history<br />
<strong>of</strong> soybean cultivation and it is estimated that the state accounts <strong>for</strong> over 70% <strong>of</strong> soybean production.<br />
Although Africa lags behind the rest <strong>of</strong> the world in soybean production, since the 1970s some National<br />
Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) in Africa and other research agencies have shown immense interest<br />
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Engaging Smallholder Farmers | <strong>Tropical</strong> <strong>Legumes</strong> <strong>II</strong> <strong>Project</strong>