How a climate resistant soybean variety 'RVSM 1135' failed MP farmers?

In late August, the Ground Report team met Nilesh, a soybean farmer from Ashta tehsil in Sehore district. Standing amidst his thriving fields, he proudly declared,

"This time, the harvest will break all records." With confidence, he added, "If we get the right price, we can clear all our debts."

A similar sense of optimism resonated with Vikram Darbar, a farmer from Bijwad village in Dewas district. "The plants are full of pods," he shared. "From my three acres, I expect at least 35 quintals of soybean. If the weather cooperates, we'll start harvesting by the last week of September," he shared.

As the year comes to an end, farmers like Nilesh, Vikram, and thousands across the soybean belt are disheartened, their hopes for a bumper crop dashed by adverse weather. Continuous rains in September left fields waterlogged and unusable. When the harvest season began in late September, heavy downpours swept through many regions, leaving farmers unable to save their crops. The much-touted climate-resistant, high-yield soybean variety—Soybean 1135—also failed to withstand this year’s untimely rainfall.

In the soybean belt of Madhya Pradesh’s Malwa-Nimar region, one name resonated across villages this year—Soybean 1135. Celebrated for delivering bumper harvests over the past four years, this variety has become a source of pride for farmers. But this year, the crop variety met with disastrous failure.

Knowing Soybean 1135

Dr. S.R. Ramgiri and his team at Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agricultural University, Gwalior, developed Soybean 1135 in 2018-19, receiving praise as a game-changer. Officially named RVSM 2011-35, it underwent 101 trials at research stations across the country before its release. Farmers fondly call it Soybean 1135.

The variety was celebrated for its resilience, capable of yielding up to 13 quintals per acre. It won gold medals in the All India Coordinated Research Project Network for consecutive years (2018-19 and 2019-20) for its record-breaking productivity. It was deemed the most advanced climate- and disease-resistant soybean variety, with moderate resistance to the yellow mosaic virus and foliar blight and multiple resistances to pests like stem flies and girdle beetles. 

Farmer Vikram Darbar, who has been cultivating the 1135 soybean variety for the past three years, is full of praise for this high-performing variant. Sharing his success story, he reveals that in 2022, he harvested 25 quintals of soybean from his three-acre farm, and in 2023, his yield increased to 30 quintals. Meanwhile, Nilesh, who planted the 1135 variety for the first time in 2023, produced an impressive 90 quintals of soybeans on his eight-acre farm. Encouraged by these promising results, both Vikram and Nilesh chose to rely on the 1135 variety again this year.

Similarly, Dr. Lekhram recommends continuing with the 1135 variety. He reassures farmers that there are effective methods to protect crops from adverse weather conditions. The key, he emphasises, is for farmers to regularly seek scientific guidance. 

Dr. Lekhram also highlights other viable options, such as the Raj Soya 24 and Raj Soya 18 varieties, for those considering a switch from 1135. Additionally, he suggests crop rotation as a practical strategy—alternating soybean cultivation with maize each year—to maintain soil fertility and improve long-term productivity.

What went wrong this year?

This year, Nilesh, who had anticipated harvesting 100 quintals from his eight acres, managed to gather only 10 quintals. Similarly, Vikram, who hoped for 35 quintals, barely harvested three. On average, farmers reported yields of just one quintal per acre, with the grain quality being alarmingly poor.

Nilesh explains,

"The continuous rains prevented the crop from drying properly. The pesticides we sprayed were washed away, adding to our expenses. Despite our efforts, the crop succumbed to yellow mosaic disease."

The low yields can be attributed to multiple factors, explains Dr. Lekhram, a soybean researcher at R.A.K. College, Sehore.

"Soybean 1135 generally requires minimal care during its first 20–25 days, but as it matures, it becomes vulnerable to diseases like yellow mosaic and pests such as whitefly. Persistent rains prevented farmers from carrying out essential inter-culture operations or applying pesticides effectively, leaving the crops exposed and unprotected."

The region’s black soil, which usually retains moisture beneficially, became a liability this year. Its high water-holding capacity led to waterlogging, depriving the plants of necessary aeration and nutrients.

Challenges ahead

Farmers typically save seeds from their harvest for the next sowing season. However, due to the poor quality of this year’s Soybean 1135 crop, many will be forced to buy new seeds from the market. Furthermore, the variety’s failure has shaken farmers' confidence.

Dr. Lekhram advises caution, saying,

"Farmers shouldn’t abandon Soybean 1135 hastily. It remains the most advanced variety. To achieve better results, use fungicides during sowing and again after 40-45 days of growth." 

Dr. Ramgiri agrees, adding,

 "A scientific survey is crucial to identify the reasons behind this failure. Without understanding the cause, we can't find effective solutions."

Importance of climate-resilient crops

Climate-resilient crops are crucial for mitigating the impacts of unpredictable weather patterns, safeguarding farmers' livelihoods, ensuring food security, and promoting environmental conservation. Both Dr. Ramgiri and Dr. Lekhram stress the need for government-led technical surveys and sampling to thoroughly analyse the situation. Only with a comprehensive understanding can steps be taken to restore farmers' confidence in Soybean 1135 and ensure the sustainability of farming in the region. 

Out in the fields, farmers like Nilesh and Vikram remain hopeful that their trusted soybean variety, 1135, will receive the scientific attention it needs. They anticipate that thorough investigations into the factors impacting its yield this season will lead to effective solutions, allowing the variety to maintain its high productivity. “Maybe the next season will give us a good yield,” hopes Nilesh with a smile from his farm in Ashta Tehsil. 

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