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Heavy and incessant rains may increase the extent of damage to soybean crop and delay harvest in Madhya Pradesh, said farmers and experts.
Many areas like Hoshangabad, Betul, Bhopal etc have already reported losses during the previous spell of rains.
More areas may report damage if rains do not stop in the coming days, said experts.
Madhya Pradesh is witnessing heavy and incessant rains from the last 2-3 days and regional weather department predicts more rains in growing regions in the coming days.
“The state has already received 18 cm more rains from the normal rains during the whole season,” said D P Dubey, director, IMD Bhopal.
More rains are likely in Malwa i.e. Indore and Ujjain divisions in the coming 2-3 days, added Dubey.
Malwa and Nimar are the major soybean growing areas in Madhya Pradesh.
Madhya Pradesh contributes more than 70% of the total soybean production in the country.
Predictions of more rains are worrying soybean farmers in the state and they feel the crop needs open weather immediately.
“Beans have grown on plants and in many areas it is in pod-filling state hence damage would be maximum if rains do not stop in 2-3 days,” said Shekhar Thakur, a soybean farmer in Dewas near Indore.
Most soybean fields are witnessing water-logging at present, said Thakur.
Rains may also affect the harvest and delay the arrival of new crop to the markets, feel industry experts.
Previously, it was believed that soybean crop will reach the markets earlier than normal scheduled time (September-end to October).
“We expected early new crop arrivals as sowing completed in major growing regions by June 15 but there may be some delay due to rains,” said Rajesh Agrawal, coordinator and spokesman, Soybean Processors Association of India.
Keeping in view the plant is in pod filling stage, crop atleast needs 10-15 days of open weather and sunlight before the harvesting starts, added Agrawal.
