IF good soyabean varieties become de­veloped, the number of soyabean farm­ers is likely to grow over the next years.

Education activities for farmers are necessary to facilitate the development of good varieties and there is potential for soyabean export in the future.

“Farmers will grow soyabeans if they have no problem growing as a sub­stitute crop for black gram. Soyabean plantations are likely to grow more than black grams if soyabean varieties are available in large amounts. Soyabean projects have been slated for next year. When good varieties are available, ed­ucation activities for farmers are re­quired. Soyabean can give more profit for farmers and the price will be better,” said Ko Lin Htet Kyaw from Shwe Pyae Lyan seeds distribution in Pyay.

Expansion in soyabean plantations can help ensure the country’s edible oil security as well as income growth for farmers, according to the Agriculture Department.

Soyabean can be grown in May as a monsoon crop, in August and September as a mid-monsoon crop, from mid-Octo­ber to mid-November as a winter crop and in February as an early-monsoon crop, and the soil should be moist fully to grow the crop. – Thit Taw/ZS