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SOYA BEANS PRODUCTION COST AND MANAGEMENT

Take note that this write up is based on 1 hectare and the prices attached are subjected to change depending on the time of purchase.

SEED:
We have different types of seed varieties on the market, contact seed companies for different types of varieties avaliable. If you can’t avoid to buy certified seed you can also plant recycled seed which we call farm seed, below are some recommended certified seed varieties:
Spike
Safari
Dina
Lukanga
Kafue
Seed Price: k650 – k700 per 25kg.

Seed requirement per hectare is 100kg that’s 4 of the 25kg bags.

Total price of seed per ha k700 × 4 = K2, 800/ha which will be spent for seed purchase in a hectare.

INOCULATION
It is important that soya seed is inoculated with an inoculant. The inoculant will assist the soya bean fix its own nitrogen into the soil, this in return will help you not apply top dressing (urea) and therefore reduce your cost of production.
For 100kg of seed you will need 300g of inoculant, follow the instructions on the label on how to apply the inoculant to the seed before planting.
Price for a sachet of inoculant is K80/k120g, two sachets will be enough to cover the 100kg of seed. Inoculant K80 × 2 = k160 /ha

SEED DRESSING
This is important as it will help protect your seed from soil insects and seedling diseases. As Agricrop we have a product called ALLSTAR (Imidacloprid 200g/kg + metalaxyl 200g/kg) which is used for this job. It comes in 35g pack size at a price of K16. To cover 100kg of seed you will need 5 sachets of allstar.
PRICE K16 × 5= k80/ha
Allstar provides protection against soil insects and early disease.

LAND PREPERATION AND PLANTING DATES
Ensure to plant on the 15th November to 15th December. Delayed planting will reduce your yield potential avoid planting in January by all means.

If land has been cultivated before, no need to re-cultivate. Practice minimum tillage(less soil disturbance).

FERTILIZATION
You can apply D-compound at time of planting by spreading it lightly over the field soon after planting before crop emerges.
1 × 50kg (2 bags maximum) will be sufficient for a hectare Price k620 × 2= k1, 240
A booster can be applied before flowering at around 30 to 35 days. Available booster for Agricrop services is Fertigreen.
Application 1L/ha, price k135/ha

SPACING
Between the lines 30cm
Between the plants 5cm
Depth 2.5-3cm.

W**D MANAGEMENT (CHEMICAL SPRAY PROGRAM)
• PRE-EMERGENCE – 1st SPRAY OPTION
It’s import that pre-emergence herbicide are sprayed at time of planting or within 3 days before the crop emerges, once these are sprayed it will give your crop a good start.

Total cost for pre-emergence per hectare will be k435. Recommended pre-emergence spray herbicides include a spray combination of chase + claw + paraquat , these are be obtained from Agricrop and are to be sprayed within 3 days of planting before the crop emerges.

POST-EMERGENCE – SPRAY-SELECTIVE HERBICIDES

These herbicides should be sprayed before the crop canopy, they will control very early broadleaf weeds and also very late germinating broadleaf and grass weeds . Your total cost for this second spray per hectare will be k250. Recommended post-emergence spray selective herbicides include Forquiz and Limit obtained from Agricrop .

INSECT 🐜 MANAGEMENT

Ensure to scout for insects immediately after crop emerges, and make spraying decisions. Common insects found in soya beans include; Bean leaf beetles, soybeans aphids, fall armyworms, stink bugs, cutworms grasshopper etc. these vary from season to season and farm to farm.
Available insecticides include; Methomyl, Acetamiprid, Cyfos, Elufen etc.

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Ensure to scout for diseases once the crop emerges and make spraying decision, common disease found in soya beans include: Bacterial pustule, Fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, and Septoria brown spot etc.
Available fungicides include: Royal top which acts as a preventive fungicide recommended to be sprayed at 40 - 45days. Maxgarde applied at first sign of disease acts as a curative fungicide.

MATURITY
Soya beans matures at 90 – 100 days. At this time it’s ready to be pulled out of the field.

Yield

With good management you can get a yield of 4tonnes/ha. On average most farmers are getting 2tons/ha.
NOTE: 1ton is equivalent to 1000kg.

TOTAL EXPENSE IN A HECTARE

This is based on the purchase of seed,
fertilizer and chemicals above.

Seed total/ha K2, 800
Fertilizer total/ha k1, 240
Chemical total/ha k960

OVERAL TOTAL COST /ha k5, 000

Soya beans selling price per 50kg bag ,let’s say it’s a good season the price can get to about k400 – k500 per 50kg bag and if you had a yield of 1.5ton/ha that’s equivalent to 30 , 50kg bags of soya beans.

PROFIT CALCULATIONS
Let’s say the price is set at k450 per 50kg bag.
K450 × 30 bags= k13, 500 from this amount you can deduct your expenses what remains is your profit.
For example our expenses in this write up was k5, 000. Therefore, to get our profit we will subtract the expenses from the amount made after sales.
E.g. k13, 500 less k5, 000 = k8, 500. In this case our profit will be k8, 500

Farming as a business. Rainy Season is fast approaching, remember failure to plan is planning to fail. Get in touch for more information.
DMW21 ;: ~AGRONOMIST H.KANYIMBO. .BScAgric.

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