Successful Completion of Training of Trainers (ToT) on Soybean Production

In an effort towards enhancing agricultural practices in Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in collaboration with the Food System and Resilience Programme (FSRP) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), have successfully conducted a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) program on soybean production. This initiative, held at the MAFS hall in Newton, targeted the training of eight District Extension Officers and ten private farmers on best agronomic practices, pest and disease control, and post-harvest management for soybean production.

The training aims to build a commercially sustainable soybean seed system in Sierra Leone. As part of this effort, the trained participants will now roll out the acquired knowledge to twenty-five farmers and two focal persons in each of the eight pilot districts: Kambia, Port Loko, Bombali, Koinadugu, Bo, Kenema, Tonkolili, and Moyamba.

Soybean plays a crucial role in smallholder cropping systems, providing food, feed, and a source of soil fertility improvement. Known for its high protein content (35–52%) and oil (14–24%), soybean is a key crop for human nutrition, poultry feed, and livestock industries. Its ability to improve soil fertility by adding nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) makes it invaluable in African farming systems, where soil exhaustion and expensive fertilizers pose significant challenges.

Soybean cultivation, requiring low agricultural inputs, is expected to expand in Sierra Leone due to its nutritional and economic importance. It stands as a prime source of vegetable oil in domestic markets, offering more protein than common vegetable or animal food sources. Additionally, the rapid growth of the poultry sector has spiked demand for soybean meal, further bolstering its production potential.

The training covered critical topics including Suitable agro-ecology for soybean cultivation, Seed variety selection, Land preparation and planting techniques, Soil fertility management, Crop protection strategies, Harvesting, threshing, and post-harvest handling, Post-testing and training evaluation.

This initiative marks a significant step towards increasing soybean production in Sierra Leone, with the anticipated benefits of improved farmer incomes and enhanced soil fertility. As awareness of soybean's potential grows, its cultivation is expected to become a cornerstone of sustainable agricultural practices in the country, contributing to food security and economic resilience.

The successful completion of the ToT program underscores the collaborative efforts of SLARI, MAFS, FSRP, and IITA in driving agricultural innovation and sustainability in Sierra Leone. By equipping extension officers and farmers with essential skills and knowledge, this project lays the foundation for a robust and commercially viable soybean industry, promising a brighter future for Sierra Leone's agriculture sector.