Soya biz tastes success in Andhra

A year ago, there were no manufacturers of soyabean food products in Andhra Pradesh. Now about 10 entrepreneurs are busy making delicious and nutritious soyabean products, thanks to the vigorous awareness campaign conducted by the American Soybean Association (ASA), a non-profit organisation started by the American Farmers' Association (AFA), among small industrialists on soyabean as a business commodity.

ASA technical director (human nutrition) Suresh Itapu, said, "In Andhra Pradesh, consumer demand is growing on a large scale for indigenous soyabean products. Soyabean cultivation and processing have picked up momentum in India during the last three years with about 200 entrepreneurs now manufacturing soyabean products."

While the production of soyabean in India was 80,000 tonnes in 1996, the harvest touched 4.25 lakh tonnes last year (2004-05).

Among the states, Punjab has readily accepted a welcome change from wheat to soya and soya business is increasing by leaps and bounds in that state followed by Tamil Nadu.

He said that though big players such as Godrej, ITC, Ruchi, and a Canadian MNC entered soya segment in India, they were not competitors to small firms spread all over India as cost of production and prices of products put the latter at an advantage in local markets.

Apart from providing the required know-how, literature and technical assistance, ASA is also conducting a number of educating programmes for doctors, dieticians, and people on soyabean as an ideal protein food rich in therapeutic values.

To provide greater fillip to the soya business, the Andhra Pradesh government has, on its part, has agreed to help the ASA organise a soyabean festival in Hyderabad in August or September.

ASA has nine branches all over the world, covering over 100 countries.

The ASA New Delhi branch, which receives Rs 4 crore from AFA every year for conducting its operations, works in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and promotes cultivation of soya and manufacture of its food products.

According to Suresh, "Soyabean, containing 40 per cent protein along with lots of fibre scores over all other legumes as a food item. Proteins in just 250 gms of soyabean is equivalent to proteins in 3 litres of milk or 1 kg of mutton or 24 eggs. Its therapeutic values make it a must food item for heart patients, diabetics, whose number is growing in India and in Andhra in particular. Consumption of 25 mg soya protein, rich in omega-3 and 6 fattyacids, per day may lower risk of heart diseases. Soyabean is also prescribed for patients with digestive disorders, weak bones, cancers and menopausal syndromes."