Current Problem: Production of Soyabean has been stagnating at around 12.5million tonnes(over the past few years) despite it’s demand mounting.Thus creating a dependence on Imports.

Crop-planting trends (current Kharif season) indicates diversion of land from Soyabean production to Crops such as Paddy , Maize, sugarcane(even in the country’s largest soybean producing state(Madhya Pradesh)

Reasons for stagnation of Domestic Production:

(1)Profitability of Soyabean Cultivation is on the decline. 

(2)Climate Change driven reasons:

• Weather uncertainties
• Threat of pests and diseases

(3)Price Fluctuations.

National need for soybean production

(1)To deal with malnutrition(Hidden Hunger)

(2)Edible Oil production

(3)Employment in the soybean industry through:

• Downstream value-chain
• Higher Exports of value-added soy products
• Capitalise on the growing demand for Vegetable Protein

(4)Currently, Indian soy exports mostly consists of de-oiled soybean animal feed.

(5)However, Human Consumption-based soy bean is largely imported from abroad.(eg)Vegan Protein supplements,protein-dense soy-based snacks.

Nutritional Benefits

According to Soy Food Promotion and Welfare Association, soybean is a cost-effective solution for  good quality protein and many vital nutrients.

Soybean has sizeable amount of healthy fats,fibre,vitamins and minerals.

• Nine essential amino acids.
• The grains have on average 40% of protein.
• It’s fat is lesser than 20%(though lower than some other oilseeds like mustard and groundnut) but considered good quality due to it’s nutrition profile of  mono-unsaturated fats and poly-unsaturated fats.

Rich in Vitamin A & K

• Rich in minerals like Calcium , Iron , Magnesium, Phosphorus,Potassium,Zinc and Selenium
• Also rich in antioxidants and phyto-nutrients

Present Low level of consumption of Soyabean 

In India it is at 2grams/day while it is 30grams/day in Japan and 40grams/day in China

Reasons:

(1)Lack of awareness of the health benefits of the nutritional profile of soybean

(2)Intrinsic preference for dairy based proteins(eg)milk,panner,curd,etc by vegetarians (and eggs & non-vegetarian sources by others).

(3)Issues related to digestibility of soybean 

(4)Soy seeds consists of certain Trypsin-inhibitors and phytates which affect nutrient absorption and cause issues like gas,bloating.

Soybean’s identity crisis:

(1)Not considered largely as a potent oil-seed

• Though it is largely grown for extracting oil and the resultant seed-cake is used as cattle feed.

(2)Not grown as a legume(pulse crop)

• Despite it’s very high protein content
• And it’s ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil