GIRISH, M.R.ASHWINI, C. THAMKE2020-10-032020-10-032018-12-07https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810152272The present study examined the cost and returns of soybean cultivation; trend in arrivals and prices of soybean in Bidar and Humanabad APMCs; various stakeholders in soybean value chain; marketing channels of soybean; and consumer preference for valueadded products of soybean. The primary data was collected from a sample of 40 soybean farmers, 10 traders, 10 wholesalers and 10 retailers of Bidar district; and 80 consumers in Bengaluru city. The results indicated that the average yield of soybean was 10.50 quintals per acre in the study area. The total cost of cultivation of soybean was about Rs. 31,906/- per acre. The gross returns amounted to Rs. 34,387/- per acre and the corresponding net returns was Rs. 2,481/- per acre. In the case of Bidar APMC, the arrivals and prices of soybean registered CAGRs of 44.52 per cent and 5.84 per cent, respectively for the reference period while the corresponding CAGRs were 53.90 per cent and 7.52 per cent, respectively for Humanabad APMC. In soybean value chain, the major actors / players involved include producers, wholesalers (soybean and / or value-added products of soybean), processors, retailers (soybean and / or value-added products of soybean) and consumers. Majority (67.50 %) of the soybean farmers sold their produce through commission agents in APMCs followed by those (32.50 %) who sold to processors while the rest (5.04 %) sold to village merchants. Among the value-added products of soybean, majority (70 %) of the consumers preferred chunks followed by oil (65 %), sauce (44 %), flour (20 %), etc.EnglishThesis