Soybean production triples

MANILA, Philippines - A record-breaking 5,280 hectares planted with soybean across all regions were noted last year, resulting in a three-fold increase in soybean production from 1,685 hectares in 2012. 

But more than these remarkable figures are the number of farming communities/peoples organizations that have adopted the technology.

These findings  highlighted the Annual Soybean Review and Planning Workshop wherein respective soybean focal persons presented their project results last Feb. 10 to 14 in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Production areas abruptly increased due to active participation of the following  organizations including the Golden Beans and Grains Producers Cooperative (GBGPC) and KDF in Pampanga; Kaharian Farms; and Mangyan (indigenous peoples from Oriental Mindoro in Roxas and Masalay).  

Soybean was also utilized during feeding programs in Palawan and for children with cerebral palsy in Region V. 

Regions also established strong collaboration with their local government units and other government agencies in the implementation of their projects and activities. 

Dr. Corazon Arroyo, manager of the Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (WESVIARC), officially welcomed the participants.

Rosemary Aquino, chairperson of the Soybean Technical Working Group (TWG), provided the updates on the Philippine Soybean Development Program.

“There has been an increase in the  farming community and the consuming public,  including school children (in soybeans).  This is because of the growing interest and enthusiasm of the local food and feed entrepreneurs,” Aquino said.  She cited Regions 3 and 5 as among those that doubled their production targets. 

Sixty participants attended the five-day activity including soybean focal persons from the regions and concerned bureaus of the Department of Agriculture (DA), and Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) technical staff. 

Focal persons presented the results of the technology demonstration trials, particularly the yield and income derived from the sites. 

After discussing the interventions applied in their region, presenters laid down their plans for 2014-2015 such as establishment of additional sites for soybean production and utilization.

Engr. Cristy dela Cruz from Region 2 showed the geotagging technology for soybean areas. 

Aquino, along with  Virginia Agcopra, BAR technical adviser, and Elmer Enicola, vice-chairperson of the Soybean TWG, gave  their recommendations, particularly on the needs-based approach to be implemented in 2014 and developing areas and sustaining the production. 

Another suggestion was to identify a group of beneficiaries that would be visited for documentation highlighting their interventions. 

Since 2011, DA through BAR and the DA-High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), has started crafting the Soybean R&D Roadmap.

Initiatives were geared towards building a strong soybean production and processing industry in the country. 

Various attached agencies of DA and Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers (RIARCs) are implementing the soybean program. 

In addition, “The benefits of an integrated soybean production provides employment opportunities, improvement of health and nutrition of farm households, more stable prices and marketing for raw materials, and a more competitive crop growing or livestock raising at the rural level,” concluded  Tong Abas of the ARMM Integrated Agricultural Research Center.