KABUL - Growers in 22 provinces of Afghanistan have harvested close to 4,000 metric tons (MT) of soybeans, says Nutrition and Education International (NEI).
NEI is a NGO that has been promoting soybean farming and nutrition in Afghanistan since 2003. NEI trains farmers on how to grow soybeans while providing them with seeds and other agricultural inputs.
Last year, the NGO trained more than 12,000 soy farmers in 22 provinces in Afghanistan. In 2016, the number of trained farmers reached 17,000 across 31 provinces.
In a statement, the organisation said the soybean harvest was estimated to exceed 6,000 MT - a record for the country. The soybean harvest is consumed primarily by farmers and their families.
The excess crop is sold to soy processors who represent a key component of Afghanistan’s soy value chain.
Over the past decade, NEI has contributed high-quality soybean seeds, fertilizer, tractors and threshers to support over 85,000 farmers grow the crop with improved yields each year. (Pajhwok)