The National Soybean Research Institute , Indore , part of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), organized Soybean Harvesting Day on October 9, 2026. On this occasion, the yield potential of the improved soybean varieties developed by the institute, NRC 200 68 and NRC 200 70, was assessed. Preliminary data obtained after harvesting one acre of each variety showed encouraging yields of around 20 quintals per hectare from both varieties. This assessment is important for understanding the performance of improved varieties under adverse weather conditions and for exploring the potential for increasing soybean productivity in the country. Currently, the average soybean productivity in the country is around 10–11 quintals per hectare.
The primary objective of Soybean Harvest Day is to assess the yield potential of improved varieties and to establish a scientific basis for productivity enhancement through the systematic collection of yield data. Harvesting data will be further analyzed to better understand the performance of different varieties and the impact of growing conditions.
Data from research and trials conducted across the country under the ICAR-National Soybean Research Institute and the All India Coordinated Soybean Research Project indicate that by adopting improved varieties and appropriate production technologies, yields of 15–20 quintals per hectare can be achieved. Under favorable conditions, this yield is likely to reach approximately 22–25 quintals per hectare.
Appreciating these preliminary data, Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said that improved varieties and scientific production techniques play an important role in increasing soybean productivity in the country. He said that despite adverse weather conditions this year, the yield of about 20 quintals per hectare from NRC 200 68 and NRC 200 70 is very positive and scientific analysis of these data will help in guiding future research strategies for increasing soybean productivity.
The Director of the National Soybean Research Institute , Indore, stated that the importance of data obtained during soybean harvest day is not limited to assessing yields for a single year. Regularly collecting and analyzing these data over several years will help understand changes in productivity across regions , varieties, and production conditions. This will develop a scientific basis for assessing annual productivity progress and estimating future production growth potential. Long-term data will also be useful in understanding the effectiveness of research and technology dissemination.
The Institute’s regular organization of such events aims to assess the true yield potential of various soybean varieties , understand the impact of advanced technologies, and disseminate information about high-yield varieties and scientific production practices to farmers. This initiative will help strengthen coordination between soybean research , agricultural extension, and dissemination of scientific information to farmers.
