U Pwint, a 40-year-old married man living in Kaung Hote Village, Taunggyi Township, participated in a soybean cultivation initiative by Shanta Foundation in 2024. This initiative changed his traditional farming practices, which previously consisted of growing crops like corn, rice, garlic, peanuts, and sunflowers.
As part of the project, U Pwint received 615 kg of soybean seeds (16 baskets), along with rhizobium (a biofertilizer), natural plant enhancers, fungicides, and land preparation guidance. He also participated in training sessions organized for the project, which focused on various aspects of soybean cultivation, including efficient planting techniques, the maintenance of a farmer’s diary, and methods of harvesting. He consistently adhered to the recommended agricultural practices outlined by the project, such as employing row planting and utilizing rhizobium. His family cultivated soybeans on a parcel of land measuring one acre, achieving a total yield of 867 kg, which they commercially sold for 2,181,200 MMK ($493). This transaction resulted in a net profit of 1,488,321 MMK ($336).
In 2024, excessive rainfall led to reduced crop yields and difficulties in timely harvesting. U Pwint shared his experiences with his soybean farming: “This year, the rain created challenges. I had to harvest later than usual, destroying two bags of crops. Also, my yield was disappointing. Initially, the first round of plants grew too vigorously. They became overly robust. During training, the instructor advised us to trim the tops, but since my soybeans were already flowering, I hesitated to cut them. I’m uncertain if that contributed to the low yield.”
U Pwint’s wife shared, “Cultivating soybeans requires minimal labor. Together, my husband and I did the work and saved significantly compared to others. Our total household expenses reached only 177,500 MMK ($40), which included costs for land preparation, pesticide application, and fuel for planting and harvesting. We utilized our small personal threshing machine, keeping our expenses very low. When we sold the harvest, our earnings exceeded 2 million MMK ($452). It proved to be very profitable. We intend to cultivate again next year. We are extremely thankful to the Shanta Foundation for their assistance.”
U Pwint compared soybean cultivation to corn farming, stating, “In corn farming, the total cost per acre—which includes seeds, land preparation, fertilizers, pesticide spraying, and harvesting—totals at least 500,000 MMK ($113). This year, our family invested approximately 200,000 MMK ($45) in one acre of soybeans. With support from Shanta and our family’s labor, total costs reached around 500,000-600,000 MMK ($113+). We earned over 2 million MMK ($ 452) from sales, yielding a profit of approximately 800,000 MMK ($180) more than what we made with corn. It also proves to be more cost-effective. However, it demands more time compared to corn farming.”
U Pwint’s wife shared the extra advantages of soybean farming: “After we harvested the soybeans, just as the trainer advised, we left the soybean plants and their roots in the ground. Now, when we plant paddy in that same area, the rhizobium from the soybean roots is still present, which reduces our need for fertilizer. The land improved significantly where we grew soybeans. This is one of the benefits we received from attending the training.”
U Pwint aims to keep growing soybeans in the upcoming year. After experiencing crop losses in 2024 due to late planting, he plans to sow the seeds earlier in 2025 and will implement plant spacing techniques, trimming the tops of any overly vigorous plants. Additionally, he has reserved 10,230 kg of seeds for future soybean cultivation. The soy bean project has proven a big success for U Pwint and his family so far!
