The soya bean double-crop trial in Zalun, Ayeyarwady Region, has been successful, said U Naing Kyaw So, staff officer of the Agricultural Research Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.
Matpe and green gram used to be the main crops in Zalun, but now 30-40 baskets of soya bean were being produced per pilot acre, he said.
“Under the leadership of the Agricultural Research Department, 10 acres of soya bean were tested and grown in our town. It was successful. By substituting with soya bean, it can produce 30-40 baskets an acre if soil and water are right. Our country aims for the sufficiency of edible oils by 2025. So, we are encouraging the cultivation of groundnut, sesame and sunflower. Soya is strange as it can also produce cooking oil after when ground. If farmers are interested, depending on the demand, linkages with companies and market prospects, we wanted to demonstrate that they could grow soya bean in addition to matpe,” he explained.
The double and triple cropping programmes to boost crop yield in Zalun, sponsored by the special funds of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, have reportedly added and tested soya bean.
Thit Taw/ZN
