Amid government’s estimate of a 15 to 40 per cent loss in soy crop due to drought, another spell of rain has given some hope to the state soy growers as they are now expecting a bumper crop this year. The crop is in good condition and there is no report of pest attack or damage due to dry spell across the state.
“This year we are expecting a bumper crop. The late August rain has brightened our hopes to cultivate more this year,” said Gulab Verma, a farmer. “We expect a yield of at least 20-22 quintal a hectare this year against normal yield of 16-17 quintal.”
Soybean Processors Association of India (Sopa) is also expecting a 10 per cent increase in yield this year if the prevailing weather conditions stay for another week. “The last few showers are favourable for a good crop this year and we expect at least 10 per cent increase in output this year,” Rajesh Agrawal, spokesperson of Sopa said.
Sopa said sowing has been completed on more than 51 lakh hectare in the state and 93 lakh hectare across India.
The soy acreage has gone up by a minuscule 0.27 lakh hectare. However maize sowing has been reduced from targeted 16.25 lakh hectares to 8.53 lakh hectares, paddy is up at 11.41 lakh hectare against targeted 8.90 lakh hectares,” a government spokesperson said.