ICAR Soybean Institute Trains Farmers in Climate-Smart and Natural Farming Practices

Farmers from Khategaon learn advanced crop management, value addition and weather-resilient techniques; 20 others receive hands-on training in natural farming

Indore, September 28, 2026 (SDNA): With the soybean crop facing growing challenges from erratic weather, pests, diseases and changing farm conditions, the ICAR-National Soybean Research Institute (NSRI), Indore, has organised two farmer-focused training programmes aimed at promoting sustainable and technology-driven soybean cultivation.

One programme was conducted under the Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Roadmap for farmers from Khategaon block of Dewas district, while the second focused on practical methods of natural farming for sustainable soybean production in central India.

Khategaon farmers introduced to modern soybean technologies

A group of 16 selected farmers from Khategaon block participated in the Agriculture Roadmap training programme.

The sessions covered improved soybean production practices, crop protection measures, emerging farming technologies and opportunities related to post-harvest value addition and processing.

Experts explained modern approaches to weed, pest and disease management and discussed strategies for maintaining crop productivity during drought, excessive rainfall and other weather-related stresses.

The participants were also briefed on the importance of adopting climate-resilient technologies and suitable soybean varieties to reduce production risks arising from changing weather patterns.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan addresses farmers virtually

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the farmers and scientists online during the programme.

He highlighted the importance of soybean as one of Madhya Pradesh’s major kharif crops and stressed the need to take improved agricultural technologies and scientific innovations from research institutions to farmers’ fields.

Chouhan encouraged farmers to consider improved varieties and modern cultivation practices. He specifically referred to soybean varieties NRC 150, NRC 268 and NRC 270, developed by the National Soybean Research Institute, noting their production potential and performance under challenging conditions.

He also spoke about efforts to make quality seed of such varieties available to farmers in the coming years.

Focus on BBF and raised-bed cultivation

Dr. Rajveer Singh, Deputy Director General, ICAR, outlined the activities being undertaken in four districts of Madhya Pradesh under the Agriculture Roadmap initiative.

He emphasised that technology transfer should not remain confined to classroom-based information. Farmers, he said, need practical exposure that enables them to understand how new methods can actually be implemented at field level.

Dr. K.A. Singh, Director, ICAR-National Soybean Research Institute, presented the institute’s work on technologies designed to help farmers manage soybean production under adverse weather conditions.

He highlighted field results associated with the Broad-Bed-Furrow (BBF) system and raised-bed planting, which have demonstrated their usefulness in managing difficult weather conditions and supporting crop establishment and productivity.

The session was conducted by Dr. B.U. Dupare of the institute.

Three-day practical programme on natural farming

Alongside the technology-oriented training, the institute also launched a three-day practical training programme on natural farming approaches for sustainable soybean production in central India.

A total of 20 farmers are participating in the programme, which focuses on field-level application of natural farming techniques in soybean cultivation.

Institute scientist Dr. Raghavendra, who has been involved in research and training related to natural farming, has been demonstrating different natural-farming-based soybean production practices at the institute’s research fields for the past four years.

During the training, participants are being introduced to natural approaches for soybean cultivation, weed management, pest and disease control and overall crop care.

Farmers are also receiving hands-on guidance on preparing various natural farming inputs using locally available resources and learning how these inputs can be appropriately applied in the field.

Linking scientific research with practical farming

The twin training initiatives reflect an effort to strengthen the connection between agricultural research and field-level farming practices.

By combining improved varieties, climate-resilient technologies, modern crop management and locally adaptable natural farming practices, the programmes aim to help farmers respond more effectively to changing weather conditions while making better use of available farm resources.

For soybean growers in Madhya Pradesh, such field-based training can provide an opportunity to understand not only what technology is available, but also how it can be applied under actual farming conditions.

(SDNA)