ICAR Develops New “Climate- Smart” Soyabean Varieties for Cultivation

The Varietal Identification Committee has selected six soybean varieties fit for cultivation in the country's three agro-climatic zones, three of which were developed at the Indore centre.

The committee has suggested the identification of 99 soybean varieties for the northern hill zone, 149 for the northern plain zone, and four soybean varieties for cultivation in Central India: NRC 152, NRC 150, JS 21-72, and Himso-1689. NRC 152, NRC 150, and NRC 149 are the three soyabean varieties created by the Indore centre. "The specifically constituted Varietal Identification Committee meet was organised during the AGM," said Dr Nita, director, ICAR-IISR, Indore. Six soybean cultivars suited for growth in three agro-climatic zones of the country have been identified by the committee.

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research, Indore, convened a two-day National Level Annual Group Meet of the All India Coordinated Research Project on soybean on Wednesday.

The yearly meeting drew about 150 scientists from throughout the country. Indore's ICAR-Indian Institute of Soybean Research (IISR) is focused on producing climate-smart soybean cultivars that can adapt to changing climates and are more pest-resistant.

"The Indore centre and All India Coordinated Research Projects will be able to deliver climate smart soybean varieties, as well as a host of other technologies for better management of insect pest diseases in the changing climatic scenario," says Dr Nita Khandekar, director of the ICAR-IISR in Indore. Khandekar was speaking at the ICAR-hosted 52nd Annual Group Meet of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Soybean.

About ICAR: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare's Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE).

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has the main mandate: to plan, undertake, aid, promote, and coordinate education, research, and its application in agriculture, agroforestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, home science, and allied sciences.