Lesson 1.3 Challenges of Soybean Production in Malawi

1.3 Challenges to Soybean Production

The challenges faced by farmers growing soybeans in Malawi includes:

• Diseases such as soybean rust are important in soybean producing areas which results in yield losses up to 80%.

• Pests such as leaf-eating caterpillars and leaf rollers.

• Low farm gate prices and unpredictable demand.

• Terminal drought that effects pod filling, seed sizes and overall seed quality.

• Poor soil fertility (low P) that effects yield and seed size among other factors.

• Limited access to seeds of improved varieties that results in farmers continued use of recycled seed.

• Poor market infrastructure, price volatility and unpredictable demand.

• Low access to extension services

• Lack of knowledge on soybean crop management, practices, processing and utiliza­tion.

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