The Miracle Bean: Tapping Unrealized Potential

Abstract

"The study attempts to assess the extent of yield gap in soybean crop over time and changes in the same at district as well as at farm level in Maharashtra. The study uses two types of yield gaps. Yield gap I compares check plot yield and district average yield, whereas yield gap II compares demo plot with that of district average yield. It also assesses yield gap at farm level vis-à-vis demo plot yield for various varieties of soybean. Although the study shows significant yield gap of soybean with respect to check and demo plot yield, a reduction in this gap is also noticed over the last one decade, especially in major soybean cultivating districts of Maharashtra. The major soybean cultivating districts show 15-20 per cent decline in yield gap during this period. The efforts initiated by agricultural extension network in the form of scientific methods of farming with emphasis on adoption of HYVs of seeds and improved cultivation practices have significantly contributed towards the decline in yield gaps."