Soybean’s Potential to Improve Smallholder Farmers’ Income in Africa

Soybean production and cultivated areas in Africa have increased substantially over the past decades, mainly due to growing demand for animal feeds and oil production. The expansion has also been facilitated by land availability and favourable climatic conditions. However, soybean yields and adoption rates remain far below expectations despite efforts by governmental and development partners to promote the crop. This review synthesised studies published between 2000 and 2023 on the biophysical performance, economic returns and adoption of soybean in Africa to determine its potential to generate income for African farmers. A systematic literature review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) framework was conducted to identify, screen and synthesise relevant studies from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. In addition, soybean production data were retrieved from the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical (FAOSTAT) database to analyse the trend of soybean production over the years. The review found that although soybean production and cultivated area had increased, average smallholder yields remained low at approximately 1.0 t ha ⁻¹ , compared with potential yields of about 3.4 t ha ⁻¹ , indicating a substantial yield gap. Soybean productivity and profitability depended on input use and management practices. Integrated application of rhizobial inoculants, organic manure, mineral fertilisers and improved varieties consistently resulted in higher yields and greater economic returns than the use of individual inputs. Higher productivity was also associated with greater profitability, with high‐input production systems generating higher economic returns than low‐input systems. Soybean adoption was influenced by technological, socioeconomic and institutional factors, with limited access to inputs, such as quality seed and inoculants, credit and reliable markets being major barriers to adoption. Overall, the review shows that soybean productivity, profitability and adoption are closely interconnected. Closing soybean yield gaps through integrated soil fertility management and improved agronomic practices could increase soybean profitability and strengthen farmers’ incentives to adopt the crop. Therefore, to enhance soybean uptake and increase farmers’ income in Africa, governments and development partners should strengthen input delivery systems, improve extension services and farmer training, and expand access to credit and markets.