ISLAMABAD: Agricultural experts have identified the Potohar region as highly suitable for soybean cultivation, saying increased production of the crop could help Pakistan reduce its dependence on imported edible oil and save valuable foreign exchange.
Experts said soybean is a highly nutritious crop containing 20 to 22 percent high-quality edible oil and around 40 percent protein. It is also rich in vitamins A, B and C, making it an important crop for both food and industrial use.
They noted that soybean meets nearly 65 percent of the global demand for poultry feed and about 20 percent of the world’s edible oil requirements.
According to agricultural specialists, soybean is used to produce a wide range of value-added products, including soy milk, cakes, biscuits, confectionery, meat substitutes, pharmaceuticals, soap and other industrial products.
Experts further explained that soybean, being a leguminous crop, naturally improves soil fertility. Beneficial bacteria in the root nodules capture nitrogen from the atmosphere, supplying nutrients to the plant while enriching the soil with additional nitrogen for subsequent crops.
They said the agro-climatic conditions of Punjab’s Potohar region make it particularly suitable for soybean farming. Expanding its cultivation would not only help meet domestic demand for poultry feed and edible oil but also reduce the country’s import bill and conserve foreign exchange.
