India Sets New Roadmap for Boosting Soybean Yields and Farmer Income: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Leads High-Level Deliberations
27 June 2025, Indore: In a major step towards transforming soybean production and enhancing farmer welfare, Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a high-level strategy session at the Indian Institute of Soybean Research in Indore. The meeting brought together top agricultural scientists from ICAR, officials from agriculture universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), representatives of soybean-producing states, central government secretaries, and leaders from the soybean industry.
Describing the session as a “serious and honest effort” to improve farmers’ lives, Chouhan emphasized that agriculture is not a ritualistic agenda but a mission inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the real needs of India’s smallholder farmers. “In countries like Brazil and the USA, large farms span over 10,000 hectares, but in India, most farmers have just 1 to 5 acres. That’s why we must adopt unique, farmer-centric approaches,” said Chouhan.
Chouhan stressed that agricultural research will now be driven by actual problems faced on the farm—not by labs in isolation. “We have over 16,000 scientists, but their work must reflect ground realities. For this, we must bridge the gap between labs and land,” he said.
Farmer-Centric Research Model
The Minister announced that agricultural research priorities will now be shaped by field-level problems shared by farmers themselves. “Innovations should be guided by demand. Scientists, administrators, and industry representatives must jointly form a team with the farmer at the centre,” Chouhan said.
As part of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, over 2,170 field teams have already visited villages to directly engage with farmers. These interactions have yielded over 300 grassroots innovations—such as increasing the shelf life of litchis using glucose sprays—which scientists are now studying for wider application.
Plans to Boost Soybean Yield and Value
“We must raise soybean yields and ensure higher returns to farmers,” Chouhan stated. “Current schemes will continue, but new strategies will be introduced to ensure profitability.”
He pointed out that while soybean contains the highest protein among oilseeds, its oil content is only around 18%. “We will work on value addition and product diversification to ensure better utilization and higher prices for farmers.”
He also emphasized the urgent need for drought- and flood-resilient soybean varieties, and said that genome editing will be explored for developing such solutions.
Tackling Substandard Agri Inputs
Chouhan expressed concern over the widespread problem of substandard seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. “Those producing spurious products will not be spared. We will also develop tools for farmers to identify quality seeds on their own,” he said.
He reiterated that under no circumstance will the government compromise on farmer interests. “Our farmers are our top priority. We are importing edible oil worth ₹1.33 lakh crore annually while our soybean area is declining. This trend must be reversed.”
Towards a Unified National Agricultural Approach
Chouhan outlined a bold vision under the mantra: One Nation – One Agriculture – One Team. “We are working on an integrated model involving farmers, scientists, administrators, and industry. Together, they will create a new agricultural future,” he said.
A new roadmap will soon be released, with targeted objectives for crops like soybean, followed by cotton, sugarcane, and pulses. The Minister also announced that KVK scientists will now spend at least three days a week directly with farmers, and he himself will spend two days in the field every week.
Field Innovations and Infrastructure
During his visit, the Minister also inaugurated infrastructure projects and reviewed innovations at the Soybean Research Institute. He observed the functioning of a new machine designed for quick and efficient seed treatment and participated in a tractor-led soybean sowing demonstration.
The event was attended by Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, Member of Parliament Shankar Lalwani, and local MLAs from Indore. The institute’s Director Dr. Kunwar Harendra Singh briefed the minister on ongoing research and upcoming innovations in soybean farming.
As India seeks to reduce its import dependency and uplift its smallholder farmers, this focused, multi-stakeholder initiative marks a significant step towards achieving sustainable and profitable soybean cultivation.
Also Read: Five Indians Recognized in 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneers List by World Food Prize Foundation
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