NEWS
Soybean Demonstration Field Visits in Jimma Zone
From August 9–14, 2025, Biosafe, together with the Jimma Zone Agriculture Office, CASA Project, and local partners, conducted field visits to evaluate soybean demonstration plots in Kersa, Omo Nada, Sokoru, Seka Chokorsa, and Limu Seka woredas.
The demonstrations involved 20 model farmers and over 200 follower farmers. Each site compared two treatments:
- Conventional practice (soybean seed + NPS fertilizer)
- Improved practice (soybean seed + NPS fertilizer + bio-inoculant)
A team of experts—including woreda focal persons, agronomists, development agents, and model farmers—monitored crop growth, management practices, and field performance.
Key findings:
- Strong performance was observed in Kersa, Omo Nada, Sokoru, and Limu Seka sites, where farmers managed the plots well.
- In some areas (e.g., Seka Chokorsa), delayed planting and site selection affected growth; experts recommended applying urea and strengthening agronomic practices.
- A newly recruited soybean contract farming expert from SITCO was also introduced to the Limu Inara Farmers’ Cooperative Union, to provide ongoing technical support and strengthen contract farming initiatives.
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Next steps:
Biosafe and partners will continue close monitoring until harvest, ensuring farmers receive technical backstopping and that the demonstration fields generate lessons for scaling up soybean production in the region.