By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Federal Government has unveiled the National Soybean Production and Expansion Policy and Strategy to increase the production of soybean in the country.
The policy targets N3.9 trillion annual revenue for the industry and 1million farm and off-farm jobs across 22 States of the federation and the Federal Capitl Territory (FCT).
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, revealed this at the unveiling in Abuja on Tuesday. He described e peogram as a bold intervention to bridge Nigeria’s widening supply-demand gap, strengthen agro-industrial productivity, and reduce import dependence.
Kyari also mentioned that the document aimed to boost local production of soybean in Nigeria, pointing out that it provides a clear blueprint to scale production, drive value addition, and expand domestic and international markets.
“Our target is to cultivate 1 million hectares of farmland and deliver 460,000 metric tonnes of soybean grain to the market within two years. Achieving these ambitious targets requires more than plans. It demands a supportive ecosystem driven by effective governance. The role of government is to create an enabling environment for growth. Through supportive policies, strategic collaboration, and targeted interventions, we aim to strengthen the soybean value chain and make it more competitive.
“Our priority is to foster an ecosystem where farmers, processors, and investors can thrive, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places agriculture at the heart of economic diversification, job creation, and national prosperity.
“This moment is about more than a policy; it is about planting the seeds of a food-secure and globally competitive Nigeria, where soybean stands as a pillar of prosperity and innovation,” he said.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, described the unveiling of the document as historic. He noted that the policy is a bold, forward-looking partnership designed to generate N3.9 trillion in annual revenue, creating one million jobs across 22 states and the FCT, and position Nigeria as a powerhouse in global agriculture.
“It is a clarion call to action—a collective invitation to reimagine the future of our rural communities, our smallholder farmers, and our nation’s economy. Benue stands as the linchpin of this vision.
“As governor of Benue, the food basket of our great nation, I am inspired by the unity and vision reflected in this assembly. We gather not merely to inaugurate a policy, but to ignite a national transformation that promises prosperity, resilience, and hope for millions.
“Our Soybean Seed Multiplication and Distribution Programme will reach over 200,000 farmers in the next three years, improving average yields from 1.2 to up to 3 metric tonnes per hectare,” he said.
Alia pointed out that Benue State, through partnership with research centres, leveraging private sector strength, and investing in extension and post harvest infrastructure, is determined to overcome every obstacle. He further stated that with strategic initiatives, Benue would double its soybean output from 202,000 to at least 400,000 tonnes in three years as well as contribute more than 400,000 metric tonnes to national production annually.