Towards Boosting the Supply Chain of Soybeans for Food Security and Import Substitution in Caraga Region, Philippines

Abstract

The supply chain of soybeans for food in the Caraga Region was assessed to determine the key actors and their critical functions to identify the issues along the chain. Investigative practice, a systematic review of published articles, key informant interviews, and a survey of 158 respondents in the production hubs (Tago and San Miguel, Surigao del Sur) were used to obtain information about the critical impediments of meeting the chain’s requirements for development relative to food security and import substitution. The rising consciousness on health and wellness among the consumers is favorable for the soybean industry. However, the results show few published articles for soybeans in the Philippines. Also, the supply chain of the said commodity has been struggling to keep up with the volume and quality requirements of the various actors for soy food production, although it remains profitable among the chain actors. The problems are more concentrated in soybean production, where farmers need help in obtaining highyielding varieties of soybean and resistant to pests and diseases and learning technologies aligned with the requirements of health-conscious consumers. This study suggests giving attention to the supply of quality planting materials for farmers to use and for government interventions to focus on empowering the farmers technologically and logistically for progress in developing the soybean industry in Caraga Region for food security and reduced soybean import dependence.