Tanzania adopts Chinese technology for Soya milk production
Soya milk extraction
What you need to know:
- Experts from China Agricultural University (CAU) have been in Tanzania since 2022 to share knowledge with local farmers
Dar es Salaam. It is unusual to find locally produced soya milk in Tanzania. But some farmers here are enthusiastic about learning from the Chinese and making their own.
Since 2022, farmers have been mastering the technology to transform soya beans into milk. Experts from China Agricultural University (CAU) have been in Tanzania since 2022 to share knowledge with local farmers.
In Tanzania, the technology has been demonstrated in four selected pilot villages—Peapea, Kitete, Makuyu, and Mtego wa Simba—in a test project in the Morogoro region. Experts said last week that the demonstration was successful.
Soya milk has become increasingly popular with many farmers, who see it as cheaper to produce than other plant sources.
Soya milk has gained rising popularity among farmers, who view it as a more cost-effective option compared to other plant-based alternatives. As part of the initiative, Chinese experts collaborated with regional authorities in Morogoro to distribute hybrid soya bean seeds to local farmers. They also provided hands-on guidance on planting and management techniques, aimed at facilitating efficient soya milk production.
The programme, which also aims to reduce poverty, is led by CAU, the Morogoro regional government and Tanzania's Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA).
The Morogoro region is one of the top five soya bean producing areas in Tanzania. However, the local soya bean industry remained bleak due to extensive local farming models and a lack of processing technology for soya bean products.
Prof Li Xiaoyun, the lead scientist, and his team say they have implemented an intercropping project called 'Small Bean and Big Nutrition'. The first harvest is now underway, and the yields will inform the next stage of expansion.
Prof Li's main role is to train farmers in the village of Mtego wa Simba in Mikese Ward, about 30 kilometres on the outskirts of Morogoro Municipal Town.
Ms Xu Jin, one of the experts, explained that there are four main stages in the production of soya milk.
“The first is to soak seeds in a pail of water and leave it overnight,” she said.
“The second stage is to grind them in a hand-made machine. The third stage is filtration, and the final one is boiling the liquid, which tastes like cow's milk.”
Omary Jayo, 72, a retired Tanzania National Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) technician and now a farmer, says he bought into the idea after learning the Chinese scientist's expertise.
He says he bought a grinding machine for $23.9 and slowly began to practice. He now sells each cup for $0.18.
