Parliament Question: National Soybean Research Centre

OIH GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 423 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21STJULY, 2026 NATIONAL SOYBEAN RESEARCH CENTRE 423. SHRI OMPRAKASH BHUPALSINH ALIAS PAVAN RAJENIMBALKAR: SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is considering to establish a National Soybean Research Centre in the Dharashiv and Parbhani districts of Maharashtra; (b) whether the Dharashiv and Parbhani districts are major soybean-producing districts of Maharashtra and whether there is a need for a national-level research centre there for soybean production, quality improvement, seed development, pest and disease management and providing technical guidance to farmers; (c) if so, the details of the action taken so far in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor; and (d) whether the Government proposes to conduct a feasibility study or take necessary steps in coordination with the State Government for the establishment of a National Soybean Research Centre in Dharashiv and Parbhani districts, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृषि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY) (a) to (c): No, there is no proposal to establish a National Soybean Research Centre in the Dharashiv and Parbhani districts of Maharashtra. Dharashiv (4.54 lakh ha) and Parbhani (2.76 lakh ha) districts of Maharashtra account for about 14.39% of total soybean area of the state (50.72 lakhs ha). In order to enhance soybean production, quality improvement, seed development, pest and disease management and providing technical guidance to farmers of different agro-ecologies of the state, the ICAR is implementing the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Soybean in collaboration with two State Agricultural Universities viz., Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi 1Vidyapeeth, Parbhani; and Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola; and one autonomous institute viz., Agharkar Research Institute, Pune. Consequently, a total of 48 climate resilient high yielding varieties of soybean have been notified for the state during 2014–2025 along with matching crop management technologies for the Soybean farmers. During 2023-24 to 2025-26, against the indents of 12202 quintals of soybean breeder seed, 36252 quintals breeder seed was supplied to the state by the AICRP on Seed centres. To augment the local availability of the quality seed of latest varieties of Soybean, the Government of India had established two Seed Hubs of Soybean in 2018-19 at Parbhani and Akola. Additionally, one more seed Hub on Soybean has been established at Rahuri under the National Mission on Edible Oil-Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) during 2024-25. To create awareness and demonstrate the new varieties and technologies, 1300 frontline demonstrations were conducted at farmers’ fields during the last past five years. Hence, there is no need for establishment of a national level research centre in Dharashiv and Parbhani districts of Maharashtra. (d) No Sir. ***** 2