Persistent rains have spoiled soya crop particularly in low lying areas. Water logging has created moisture stress in some pockets of Indore, Hoshangabad and Harda division, while early sowing areas have lost crops at flowering stage in Ujjain, Shajapur, Bhopal and Khandwa districts.
Indore division agriculture official said that crop damage is extensive, however, higher authorities in state secretariat say there is no big loss to the crop.
Indore-based Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA) also fears crop loss due to torrential rains continue for this week. "Khandwa district have lost soya crop in 9,000 hectares," said R C Raghuwanshi, joint director in agriculture department. "The loss will be more in areas where water logging is reported," he added.
There is no let-up in rain for the last two days across the state. Madhya Pradesh, which is known as soya bowl of India, is estimated to cross 8 million tonne this year too against 8.2 million tonne production last year.
On the other hand M M Upadhyay, agriculture Production Commissioner and additional chief secretary of the department said, "There is no major loss to the crop but we have demanded reports from various districts."
The state has received a total of 660 mm of rain so far against the estimated 990 mm of rains for the entire season.
"This rain will damage soya plants if it continues during the flowering stage. Also, it will make the crop prone to pest attack causing significant loss of crop. As of now only low lying areas have lost crop due to water logging," Rajesh Agrawal, spokesperson SOPA said.
Madhya Pradesh has sown soya in 11 million hectare area against the targeted 12 million hectare.
