LAHORE: With a view to slash national import bill, Punjab is embarking on a transformative agricultural journey aimed at replacing expensive soybean imports with robust local production within the next three to five years.
Currently, non-GMO soybean varieties are being successfully cultivated on a commercial scale across the province, including traditional corn belt, extending as far south as the desert regions of Bahawalpur. Approximately 4,500 acres are presently under cultivation in key districts, including Kasur, Okara, Sahiwal, Lodhran, Khanewal and Bahawalpur, all utilising high-quality seeds developed specifically for the local climate by the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF).
According to Prof Dr Zaheer Ahmed, incharge of the Soybean Lab at UAF, these varieties have demonstrated remarkable resilience, particularly regarding heat tolerance amid harsh weather due to climate change. This specific trait has allowed the crop to thrive even in the challenging arid environment of Bahawalpur. While the current provincial average yield stands at approximately 25 to 30 maunds per acre, Dr Ahmed notes that progressive farmers in high-potential areas like Sahiwal and Okara have already achieved impressive peaks of over 40 maunds (1,600 kg) per acre.
UAF researchers anticipate that most farmers in the maize belt can consistently produce between 25 to 30 maunds per acre and with the adoption of optimised agricultural practices and better inputs availability, its production can be enhanced up to 50 maund.
This initiative serves as a strategic response to Pakistan’s heavy reliance on foreign soybean products, he observed.
The national import bill for soybeans and related products represents a significant and growing economic burden. For context, according to an estimate, apart from human consumption, Pakistan typically spends approximately $1 billion annually on imports of soybean and allied product to satisfy the essential protein requirements of the poultry, dairy and livestock sectors. The import figure represents the sum of whole soybean imports and soybean oil imports.
The livestock and poultry industries have long been dependent on addressing nutritional deficiencies in feed. Domestic cultivation offers a sustainable way to secure these vital food chains while preserving precious foreign exchange reserves.
The provincial government has launched an ambitious plan to scale up soybean cultivation to between 1.5 million and 2 million acres over the next three years. The province pushes local soybean production with a view to cut the import bill in the next three to five years.
Dr Ahmed explains that although soybean was first introduced to Pakistan in the 1960s, it failed to gain widespread acceptance at the time due to various technical hurdles and lack of market support. However, its reintroduction today is viewed as a strategic intervention. Modern monitoring, including digital live mapping of cultivation sites since 2023, ensures a more successful and transparent rollout.
The industrial response to this domestic shift has been overwhelmingly positive. In 2024, a major feed mill from Multan purchased the bulk of the first commercial harvest, providing proof of concept for the local industry. By 2025, a growing list of local dairy farms and industrial buyers had queued up for domestic supplies, and this year, many more local buyers are eagerly awaiting the harvest. These locally produced, non-GMO soybeans are proving to be fully comparable in nutritional quality to imported genetically modified varieties.
At the UAF Soybean Lab, the mission extends well beyond simple seed distribution. The lab is dedicated to developing climate-smart, high-nutritional soybean lines that can withstand both biotic and abiotic environmental stresses. By strengthening the linkage between farmers, academia, and industry, the lab aims to diversify domestic cropping systems and guarantee national food security in an era of increasing climatic volatility.
