Journal of Krishi Vigyan

Soybean is an important crop of Chandel district but as a general trend the productivity has not been satisfactory due to some technological and extension gaps. The major factors identified by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Chandel for low yield of soybean can be listed as traditional and habitual use of local seed, low seed replacement rate, and non-adoption of recommended scientific package of cultivation practices. KVK Chandel conducted extensive frontline demonstrations in several villages for popularization of improved soybean along with recommended package of practices. Also, KVK Chandel organised both on-campus as well as off-campus capacity building programmes for the farmers, field days, group discussions, farmer-scientist interaction meets etc. to popularize cultivation of the hybrid soybean. As an impact of these vigorous efforts put in by KVK, the area under hybrid soybean cultivation increased from 4 ha in 2019 to 21 hectares in 2023 resulting into almost 81 percent increase in area under soybean. An extensive evaluation of economic returns revealed that the additional production of soybean due to the introduction of improved variety resulted in an additional net income of Rs 92,184/- with a BCR of 3.92 during 2023. Besides being an excellent cover crop (of 125 days duration), it makes possible for the farmer to grow another following crop. The technology has been a great means for moisture conservation. Great yield and surplus demand for soybean for fermentation purpose has boosted the farm income. The time and efforts invested by the subject experts of KVK Chandel has started giving good returns to the tribal farmers of the district by fetching them enhanced farm income from increased farm productivity.