Constraints to Increasing Soybean Production and Productivity in Benue State, Nigeria

Apart from its industrial uses, soybean is a cheap plant food source that the low-income population in Nigeria depends on for protein and nutrient needs, but there is a decline in its production and productivity. Identifying the production constraints is critical to formulating policies and programmes that would boost soybean output for domestic and industrial utilization. This study was undertaken in twelve villages of Benue State, Nigeria where a random sample of 120 soybean farmers was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The findings showed that the average age of the farmers, mean household size and mean soybean farming experience were 43 years, 12 persons and 16 years respectively. Also, the mean farm size was 2.1 hectares with an average annual soybean farm income of 61,758 Nigerian Naira (US$385.99). The study further found that the constraints of marketing, production and linkages hampered the increased production and productivity of soybean in Benue State. In the light of the above, there is need for training and re-training of extension workers to effectively disseminate soybean improved technologies to farmers. In addition, extension agents should provide soybean farmers marketing information, establish viable links between respondents and relevant stakeholders in order to improve access to inputs and modern technologies while the local and state governments establish rural markets with good marketing infrastructure and good rural roads to enable farmers have high returns on soybean investment.