MP soya body hopeful of good acreage

Despite the late arrival of the monsoon in Madhya Pradesh, and consequently the sowing of soyabean getting delayed, the Soyabean Processors' Association of India (Sopa) is still hopeful of the area of cultivation increasing.

In addition, it sees no significant loss if the sowing is completed by the second week of July and rains arrive within 6-7 days.

Sopa has asked farmers to sow the earlier variety of the soybean seed so that harvesting can be completed by the end of September or early October. It expects a fall in soyameal export.

"If the rains remain normal and arrive within seven days, the area of cultivation will not be less than that of last year (7 million hectares all over India and 4 million hectares in Madhya Pradesh)," Sopa Chairman Rajesh Agrawal told Business Standard.

He said, "There is no doubt the monsoon is delayed in MP, and the sowing of soyabean too has got postponed. However, if we receive the rains in a few days, the sowing can take place during the first week of July. As per our information, there will not be significant loss in productivity if the sowing is completed even by the second week of July. However, if there is any further delay, it will definitely cause a loss in productivity."

"It would be premature to comment at this moment on productivity," he added.

Sopa has advised farmers to undertake sowing only after rainfall of 3-4 inches is received, so that there is sufficient moisture in soil to avoid a second sowing in the case of delay in the second round of rainfall.

On the weather information system, Agrawal said, "Weather reading is a very complex issue. The government is trying to do its best, but a lot remains to be done. Sopa tries to suggest to farmers to take a cautious position and not be adventurous, which may lead to sowing again and increased cost."

Sopa collects information from the India Meteorological Department and other sources.

Agrawal said, "We are not yet satisfied with the information given to farmers on the weather, but there are constraints of resources."

"More and more farmers have started buying certified seeds. However, due to financial constraints, weather cycles and literacy issues, the efforts must continue. Certified seed availability has been increasing over the years; the state government and the private sector have been making efforts to provide seeds to farmers. However, it has been observed that the demand for good-quality certified seeds from Maharashtra and other southern states is rising. The demand in Madhya Pradesh is less because of economic and literacy reasons."

On the agri-extension scheme launched by Sopa, he said, "Our agri-extension scheme has yielded good results. However, we have been able to prove to the farmers that with good agricultural practices, soyabean yield can be increased by 50-100 per cent."

On soyameal export, he said, "The export of soyabean meal this year would be about 2 million tones, against last year's 3 million tones, the decline being because of less production and increase in domestic consumption. We have to be watchful regarding the weather in India as well in the US and China while assessing export figures."