Soya Beans Disease and Insect Control

Soya beans is currently one of the most grown crop in Zambia. This is attributable to the high market prices of the crop over the years. Recently, these prices have dropped, however farmers have continued to grow soya beans due to its likelihood to yield a good return as compared to maize.

Soya beans is an immaculate source of protein with uses ranging from feed formulation for livestock to human consumption. The variety of products is mind blowing. We have soya chunks, oil, soy milk and soy meal to mention a few.

Disease and Insect Control in Soya Beans

Soya bean diseases are not easily identifiable especially for first time farmers. It is therefore imperative to undertake at least one preventive spray within 45 to 50 days of planting. Prevention is better than cure, right?

Some common diseases include Frogeye leaf spot, Bacterial blight, Brown stem rot, Downy mildew, Soybean rust and Septorial brown spot. Control can be done by spraying Maxgarde, a fungicide from Agricrop Services. Maxgarde has preventive and curative properties.

It is important that farmers also scout for insects immediately after the crop emerges. Some of the common insects found in soya beans include bean leaf beetles, termites, cutworms, stink bugs and leaf eating caterpillars.

At Agricrop available insect control products include elufen, fipronil, imida and cyfos.

With Agricrop these are small problems.

by Agronomist H. Kanyimbo

Agronomist H. Kanyimbo has the farmers at heart and is just one call away. For your farming input supply, call +260-975-683867

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