Soybean acreage may go up by 7-10% this year: SOPA

Soybean acreage in the country is likely to go up by 7 to 10 % this year due to timely monsoon and area shift from paddy to soybean, according to Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA).

"Rains have been timely and good so far. Also, some soybean area which shifted to paddy last year is back this year," said D N Pathak, Executive Director, SOPA.

Some areas in Madhya Pradesh like Hoshangabad shifted to paddy from soybean in Kharif 2014.

Sowing is mostly over in major growing areas of the country except a few areas of Rajasthan which may finish soon, added Pathak.

According to SOPA, soybean sowing has covered around 96 lakh hectares by now and sowing is likely to get over by this week with around 118 lakh tonne area under cultivation.

Last year, Kharif 2014, soybean acreage was around 109.032 lakh hectare which was down around 9% compared to Kharif 2013.

During Kharif 2014, soybean acreage declined in Madhya Pradesh by 9.6% and in Rajasthan it was down by 19.3%, according to SOPA data.

Currently, both states have recovered the soybean area which is giving way to increase in total soybean acreage in the country, said experts.

Germination of soybean seeds is good at present and crop prospects are better than last year, feel experts.

According to agriculture experts, seeds sown in June yield maximum output.