Soyabean expansion and smallholder livelihoods in rural Zambia: dynamics, experiences and implications

This study investigates how expansion of soyabean production enhances smallholder livelihoods in rural Zambia. Using a mixed-methods research design that integrates questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews. The results show that a clear policy orientation has driven the expansion of soyabean production, which has been underpinned by market dynamics and private actors. Soyabean adoption among smallholders is top-down, and emphasizes income benefits among rural producers. Soyabean adoption enhances food security and provides wider benefits, including increased community, regional, and cross-border trade exchanges. Quantitative analysis shows that climate change adaptation of soyabean cultivation increases the probability of improved rural livelihoods of small-scale farmers in Zambia by 1.554 which is statistically significant at 0.05 significance level. However, the top-down nature of soyabean promotion raises questions about sustainability beyond current state policy and market dynamics. The hype around soyabean expansion has not been followed by significant smallholder improvements; hence, there is a need for capacity building in value addition and processing, including those that emphasize the nutritional dimensions of soyabean expansion.