PARWAN - Scheduled to be completed in 2015, Afghanistan’s first soymilk factory is under construction in Parwan province, north of Kabul. When finished, the factory, backed by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and a contribution of US12$ million from the Republic of Korea, will produce sterilized, protein-rich soymilk.

The project, initiated to capitalize on the increased production of soybeans by Afghan farmers, is part of a larger programme supported by WFP and non-governmental organization Nutrition and Education International (NEI) to develop soybean consumption as a way to counter malnutrition in Afghanistan.

“This factory is a positive development that now necessitates expanding the soy-processing sector and increasing consumer demand for soy products to absorb the growing supply of soybeans Afghan farmers are not using for home consumption,” says Wahidullah Amani, a Kabul-based WFP official, noting that as a result of more than a decade of effort, soybean production is now widespread in Afghanistan.

NEI is managing the factory construction with the support of WFP. Both organizations are working to promote awareness about soy products. The project is being implemented in partnership with several government entities, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.

“Our ultimate goal is to defeat malnutrition through the development of a self-sustaining soy industry with a full value chain that we hope to achieve soon,” Mr. Amani says.

When complete, the factory is expected to be able to manufacture shelf-stable soymilk for nationwide marketing and distribution. In addition, chickenfeed will be produced from the residual soybeans that are a byproduct of the soymilk-making process. Mr. Amani explains that the chickenfeed will be provided to local women to encourage them to raise chickens to generate income.

According to Mr. Amani, WFP and NEI are now working to help improve soybean production in Afghanistan through new seed trials and a certified seed-production programme. The two organizations have scheduled work with farmers in an estimated 20,000 villages across Afghanistan, and are developing 100 model farms desired for soybean research.

For more infomation about soy products and their benefits, please see: http://neifoundation.org.