Soybean Cultivation in Afghanistan: A Review of Varietal Adaptability, Agronomic Practices, and Food Security Opportunities

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a globally important legume and oilseed crop, valued for its high protein and oil content as well as its role in sustainable agriculture through biological nitrogen fixation [12,8]. Despite its global significance, soybean adoption in Afghanistan remains limited, with cereal-based systems dominating production and contributing to nutritional deficiencies and soil fertility decline [13]. Introducing soybean into Afghan farming systems offers opportunities to diversify production, enhance food security, and restore soil health [2,15].

This review synthesizes global advances in soybean research—including genomics, multi omics, and climate resilient breeding strategies [20,22,33]—alongside regional experiences from South Asia and localized trials in Afghanistan [25,26,30,34]. Evidence from Pakistan [25,31], India [26,32], Bangladesh [30,24], and Iran [34] demonstrates soybean’s potential to improve soil fertility, strengthen climate resilience, and meet rising demand for protein rich food and feed [24,25,26,30,34]. Afghan specific trials in Kabul Province have identified promising varieties such as LD109168, LD0910911, Stine30E32, and which achieved yields above 2,500 kg ha⁻¹ under semi-arid conditions [1,7,9]. However, adoption remains constrained by weak seed systems, limited farmer awareness, and underdeveloped processing infrastructure [30].

By integrating global lessons with Afghan realities, this review highlights soybean’s potential as a strategic crop for food security and sustainable agriculture under semi-arid conditions, while underscoring the need for investment in seed systems, extension services, and processing industries [5].