MP’s soybean farmers cheer late rains

Madhya Pradesh,besides Gujarat and Maharashtra,is a major producer of the soybean crop in the country.

Both farmers and the government had been worried as the monsoon not only arrived late but it also rained much less in the beginning of the season.

The production is expected to be good in Ujjain,Indore,Narmadapuram (Hoshangabad),and Bhopal divisions where the rains have been widespread and well distributed.

“Normal production is assured. And if it continues to rain as good as it has been raining,the target production will definitely go up,” Director,Agriculture,Dr D N Sharma told The Indian Express.

At Rewa,Shahdol,Sagar,Gwalior and Chambal divisions,however,which have light soil and lack of rains,the production will be less by 25 per cent.

The government is yet to release last year’s exact production details but the average yield per acre in the state is 1,100 quintal.

According to Soybean Processors’ Association of India (SOPA),the Indore-based national body representing soybean processors,exporters,farmers and brokers,the delayed spell of rains has made the crop secure.

The association said despite drought,soybean acreage has increased to 96.70 lakh hectares in the country.

At 51 lakh hectares,according to official figures,Madhya Pradesh has a lion’s share in soybean acreage.

SOPA coordinator Rajesh Agarwal said the crop is in good health. “The production will catch up with last year’s yield. If rains are favourable,the yield will even surpass that of last year.” The association said at 96.24 lakh hectares,the crop has been sown in less area last year.

The association’s figure of the crop’s acreage in MP is more than that of the official figure by more than 1.5 lakh hectare. The acreage in neighbouring Maharashtra,however,has witnessed a decline.

Meanwhile,SOPA admitted that the export of soybean meal during April to August this year was only 4,59,222 MT compared to 15,95,613 MT during the corresponding period last year.

The steep decline was close to 71 per cent over the corresponding period. In August,the decline in export of soybean at 1,27,299 MT was 40 per cent less than that of last August. The Indian farmers did not release their stocks in time last year hoping to get a better price. The delay drove buyers to other markets,said a SOPA office-bearer to explain the steep decline in exports. At Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,050 per quintal,the soybean is still selling above the MSP of Rs 1,390.