Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on June 26, 2025, visited the Ritudhan campus of the National Soybean Research Institute in Indore and laid the foundation stone for its new "Prakshetra Ritudhan Campus." During his visit, the minister reviewed cutting-edge soybean research, observed advanced crop varieties and climate-resilient farming models, and interacted with scientists working on farmer-focused agricultural innovations.
Speaking to the media after the visit, Chouhan highlighted that while food grain production in India has increased by 44% over the last 11 years, a critical gap still exists between research labs and farm fields. To address this, the government has launched a ‘Lab-to-Land’ campaign under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. Over 2,100 teams have reached out to nearly 13.5 million farmers across the country to align research priorities with real-world needs.
Chouhan said a major shift is being introduced in how agricultural research is approached. “Until now, scientists in Delhi decided what to research. That won't happen anymore. Farmers will now decide what needs to be done. They know their challenges best,” he stated.
He added that many farmers across India are already adopting innovative practices on their own, and scientists will now help enhance and scale these home-grown solutions. “This is about going beyond theories and working with what’s happening on the ground,” he said.
The newly launched Prakshetra Ritudhan Campus aims to become a centre for advanced soybean research and technology development. It is expected to play a key role in promoting sustainable farming systems and helping farmers across India access better tools, knowledge, and crop varieties.
Minister Chouhan also revealed that during interactions held under the ongoing campaign, several farmers raised concerns about substandard seeds, fake pesticides, and limited seed availability. In response, the ministry conducted a detailed workshop with farmers, agricultural universities, and key stakeholders to develop actionable solutions.
On the research front, Chouhan mentioned that the focus will now shift toward developing high-yield, disease-resistant seeds using advanced techniques such as genome editing. Additionally, efforts will be made to enable early detection of crop diseases and promote mechanization to address the growing shortage of agricultural labour. He also emphasized the need to boost soymeal exports and encourage the production of value-added products like tofu and soy milk.
“We have progressive farmers producing up to 20 quintals per acre. We’ll learn from them and ensure these results are replicated across the country,” he added.
Chouhan also announced a series of upcoming region-specific consultations, in Coimbatore for cotton, Meerut for sugarcane, and Kanpur for pulses, aimed at increasing the productivity of other major crops.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to inclusive agricultural growth, he said, “Our mantra is: One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team. Everyone, from farmers to scientists, must come together to shape a stronger, more sustainable future for Indian agriculture.”
