Push to promote soybean cultivation gains ground in Punjab

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) promotes soybean as a high-value legume for kharif crop diversification to save water.

Hoshiarpur's soybean acreage rose from 80 acres in 2019 to 500 acres in 2026, driven by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) trials.

Soybean requires low fertilizer, limited pesticide, and minimal irrigation (5 cycles vs. 30 for paddy).

Farmers report yields of 5 quintals per acre but face unstable prices (₹3,500–6,000/quintal) and lack of organized marketing channels.

Plants fix nitrogen in soil, reducing synthetic fertilizer need, but processing infrastructure and price assurance are needed for wider adoption.