Agriculture scientists at Makerere University in partnership with the National Agriculture Research Organisation (NARO) have developed soya beans that will save farmers the cost of weeding.

According to Prof. Phinehas Tukamuhabwa, from the School of Agricultural Sciences, the new varieties have been bred to include genes with resistance to glyphosate herbicides like roundup, which should be applied in the soybean garden at the time of weeding.

He added that when applied, all the weeds will be killed except soybeans which are not the case existing weed control herbicides on the market, as these do not differentiate weeds from soybean plants.

He further explained that crop scientists settled for roundup because it is environmentally friendly controls most weeds, and promotes minimum tillage of land, hence conserving moisture in the soil for the plant among others.

Tukamuhabwa however added that much as the soybeans that are genetically modified will save farmers the cost of weeding, they will not be given to farmers until a law that regulates any use, production, and consumption of genetically modified organisms is in place.

In the meantime, he advised farmers to continue planting soybeans such as Maksoy 1N, Namsoy 4M, Maksoy 2N, Maksoy 3N, Maksoy 4N, Maksoy 5N, and Maksoy 6N that were conventionally bred and developed by Makerere University in collaboration with NARO and are not genetically modified. 

“The advantage of the above varieties is that they don’t shatter easily, mature early between 85 to 90 days, are high yielding, giving off between 4000 to 4500 kilograms per hectare, resistant to pests and diseases, and can be replanted,” Tukamuhabwa said.

He made the remarks recently, following a sensitization meeting of Oil Seed farmers under the Uganda Oil Seed Producers and Processors Association (USSPA) from Teso and Bugisu sub-regions in Soroti district on Wednesday.

Ray Agong, the Executive Director of UOSPA explained to farmers that weeding is one of the best farming practices that are often under looked by farmers but affects crop production if not attended to in time.

“Weeding helps in getting rid of weeds, as these compete with the desired plants for nutrients from the soil, it reduces incidences of pests and diseases because it becomes easier for the farmer to spot any invasions or changes in the plant when free from weeds,” said Agong.

He added although it is highly recommended, it is costly especially for many smallholder farmers.  For example, to weed one acre of soybeans, a farmer has to part with about sh150,000 per acre of which weeding in most cases is carried out at least three times in a season. 

When combined, a farmer is likely to part with sh450,000 per season, a cost that farmers say is too high, added Agong.

Apart from weeds, other challenges faced by farmers growing soybeans include the inadequate supply of quality seed, high cost of seed, which contribute to nearly 60% of expenditures in soybean growing. 

Tereza Ocilaje, a soybean farmer from Ngora district, Teso sub-region, admitted that weed management is one of the biggest constraints in soybean production.

Soybean farmer Tereza Ocilaje shares her experience during the sensitisation meeting in Soroti. Photo by Prossy Nandudu

 Ocilaje planted soybeans in one acre, hopes to harvest 400 kilograms. When she subtracts the cost of weeding as explained above and the cost of seed, Ocilaje says she will be left with less compared to the expected income this season.

The meeting, organized by the Uganda Biotechnology Biosafety Consortium (UBBC) was part of the outreach program that helps NARO to extend research technologies closer to the targeted beneficiaries like farmers.

The Coordinator of UBBC, Grace Prospero Lonyo added apart from taking NARO technologies closer to farmers, they will also continue with the sensitisation of farmers about the latest technologies in agriculture like agriculture biotechnology and how this will help the farming communities.

Why farmers should embrace them

Information from the Makerere University soybean program indicates that there is an increasing demand for soybean grain for animal feeds, human food and cooking oil, and other nutritional supplements.

Every day 1million kilograms of soya is sold within the country. But on average farmers get 600 kilograms of soya beans from an acre.