Late monsoon won't hit soya sowing, feels MP

Madhya Pradesh is expecting an increase in soya acreage despite the late monsoon. Experts feel soya sowing in the state is unlikely to get affected even if the dry spell continues till June 30.

According to the Soyabean Processors Association of India (Sopa)"" the only independent body in the country that estimates soya crop "" and the department of agriculture, the acreage is likely to go up this year.

Sopa is expecting the acreage to touch 44 lakh hectares approximately against 41.922 lakh hectares last year with an average yield of 796 kg per hectare. The association is releasing its estimate of crop position all over the country after conducting surveys on completion of soya sowing.

Despite the optimism, agri experts and the soya industry fear that if the monsoon is delayed beyond June 30, it might make a dent in the output.

"Much will depend on the follow-up rains," Sopa Chairman Rajesh Agarwal told Business Standard over telephone from Indore.

State Agriculture Director RS Manral also said, "Normally, soya sowing takes place during June 20-30 which is also the period when monsoon strikes. Even if monsoon comes in the first week of July we don't see much effect on the crop but we need at least 100 mm rains and after that a short dry spell for proper sowing."