Japanese-Unido soybean project successfully handed over to Sudan centre

A large soybean production and distribution project in Khartoum and El Gezira states was successfully concluded last month.

The project, sponsored by the Government of Japan with $500,000, was implemented by the UN Industrial Development Organization (Unido), in collaboration with Ministry of Industry, in Khartoum state and part of El Gezira state.

During a ceremony on 28 May, the project management officially handed the project to the Sudanese Industrial Research and Consultancy Centre (IRCC) including the soybean processing equipment.

The soybean project started in April 2014 and ended officially in February 2015, aimed to improve the nutrition situation and enhance the income of vulnerable communities in Sudan, Unido Sudan stated in a press release today.

Three main workshops were conducted during the implementation period, with all stakeholders, to discuss their views on the outcomes, about marketing opportunities, and the third workshop was held in June 2015 at the Khartoum International Fair, about the future of soybean production and soy-based food distribution.

In collaboration with El Gezira Scheme Authority, 30 feddan* were cultivated in El Gezira state, with good results. Yields were obtained with an average of 0.88 up to 1.25 tonne per feddan.

* One feddan is equivalent to 1.038 acres (0.42 ha)