The huge increase in the production of soybeans – together with maize, a key component of poultry feed – has been highlighted as a South African agricultural success story.
This year’s soybean harvest is estimated at 2.4 million tonnes, up 29% on the previous year.
South Africa has turned from a net importer of soybeans to a significant exporter, as plantings increased 21-fold over the past 30 years, BusinessTech reported.
It quoted agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo attributing the increase to growing demand for soybean oilcake or meal by the animal feed industry.
“This, in turn, has been driven by an increase in the demand for high-protein food, particularly poultry products,” said Sihlobo.
South Africa’s per capita consumption of poultry meat had almost doubled over the past 17 years, and was currently estimated at around 41 kilograms per person per year.
Sihlobo highlighted technological advancement in seeds, fertilisers and farming practices.
Genetically modified (GM) seeds, introduced in the early 2000s, now accounted for almost 95% of South Africa’s soybean plantings.
“This is the only country on the African continent that produces GM soybeans. Therefore, it is unsurprising that South Africa continues to enjoy tremendous growth in soybean output while production in other African countries remains pedestrian,” Sihlobo said.
