Soya beans are arguably one of the best and most affordable plant sources of protein in this part of the world. It provides nourishment for both children and adults and can be used to make a wide variety of meals. Soya beans aren’t so difficult to cultivate so any person can engage in soya bean farming in Nigeria.
Would you like to know how to start soya bean farming in Nigeria? This post will show you all that you need to know. It will also show you some benefits of soya bean farming and pests that affect soya beans in Nigeria.
How to Start Soya Beans Farming in Nigeria
Soya beans fall into the legume family. This crop has been planted for several years because of its high protein potential. Aside from eating the beans, you can extract oil from them, grind them, and convert it to soya bean milk. Soya bean farming in Nigeria is a lucrative venture that any young person can start with the right resources. Let’s show you how to start below:
Feasibility studies
Not many people understand the importance of running feasibility studies before beginning a business. The role of feasibility studies in the success of a business cannot be overemphasized. You should gather as much information as possible about soya beans farming in Nigeria before you begin.
Some of the important points that you should cover include:
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The best type of soil for soya beans farming.
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Where to get high-quality, disease-resistant soya beans seeds for planting.
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The planting processes and techniques.
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How to sell your products.
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Factors that affect the prices of soya beans in the market.
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How to fix prices.
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Challenges of soya beans farming in Nigeria and how to overcome them.
With this knowledge at your fingertips, you can rest assured of success in your new business. you can also use this knowledge to write a detailed business plan.
Sourcing capital
After studying the market, you should have a rough estimate of how much capital you need to start this business. You cannot run this business, or any business at all, without some capital. There are several ways to source capital for your soya beans farm. Some of the popular methods include:
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Bank loans.
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Government loans or grants.
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Angel investors.
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Loans or cash gifts from loved ones.
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Personal savings.
Ensure that you have a clear plan of how to spend the funds by drawing a budget. Work with finance management apps to ensure proper management of your capital.
Find a land
This is another very important step you must take when starting a soya bean farm in Nigeria. During your feasibility studies, you should find out the soil requirements for optimal soya bean yield. Any land that you will choose should meet these requirements. To find out, ensure that you run tests on the soil. These tests may not be necessary if you want to start a small farm, but if you are going large-scale, you cannot avoid them.
The location of your land should be in a place that is secure, away from cattle, and have favorable climatic conditions. Soya beans require rain to flourish. However, you can opt for irrigation if you want to plant all through the year or in a location with poor rainfall. Also, ensure that the soil is not prone to waterlogging. Instead, it should be well-aerated and allow for proper drainage.
Choosing your seeds
Your choice of seeds can make or mar your soya beans farm. As such, experts advise that you choose your soya beans seeds based on certain factors. Some of these factors include:
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Drought tolerance.
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Yield potential.
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Maturity period.
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Lodging.
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Pest and disease-resistance.
Ensure that you choose a soya bean variety that suits your geographical location. Some varieties mature late, so they are not suitable for locations with low rainfall. The reason for this is that you risk poor yield if there is a late-season drought. As much as you can, ensure that you only plant high-quality seeds. Source for your seeds from trusted providers alone. Ensure that the seeds that you use are less than 15 months in storage.
Land preparation and planting
After sourcing your land and the seeds you need, your next step is land preparation and planting. Ensure that you get rid of weeds on your farmland before you proceed to plant. You can do this manually or using mechanized methods. The latter is preferable if you are running a very large farm.
When you are done with weeding, you can proceed to make your seedbeds. Doing this ensures good germination while reducing the capacity of the land to produce weeds. If you have the capacity, experts advise that you carry out germination tests before you plant your seeds.
Farm management
Planting your soya beans is not the end of your job on the farm. You must carry out farm management practices to ensure that you have a great yield. This means that you must check for and remove weeds so that they don’t compete with your crops for nutrients.
You should also ensure that you protect your crops from rodents and cattle. Finally, put in the effort to protect your crops from pests and diseases.
Harvesting and marketing
Soya beans take about three months to mature. You can harvest them once they are ready and proceed to the market. The local market is a great place to sell your soya beans. However, we suggest that you seek out other options if you have a very large farm. These options include food industries, supermarkets, and food processing companies. Alternatively, you can package your soya beans and send them out of the country.
Common Soya Beans Pests in Nigeria
Pests are among the chief challenges you are likely to face in soya beans farming in Nigeria. Here are some of the common soya beans pests in this part of the world:
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Bacterial blight
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Bacterial pustule
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Rhizoctonia stem rot
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Rust
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Sclerotinia stem rot
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Septoria leaf blight
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Armyworms
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Mexican bean beetle
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Brown spot
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Charcoal rot
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Downy mildew
Conclusion
There you have it for how to start soya beans farming in Nigeria. Do you have any questions? Feel free to drop them in the comments section below.