MP soy yield may decline

Madhya Pradesh is likely to suffer on production this year due to delayed rains and drought like conditions in Malwa region.

Soyabean production is likely to go down as low as 33.351 lakh tonne as against 34.662 lakh tonne. The acreage is also estimated to shrink to 44.439 lakh hectare to 41.922 lakh hectares.

However acreage in Chhattisgarh has gone up from 40,000 hectare to 65,000 hectares this year and yield is looking up at 48800 tonne from 27600 tonne.

Indore-based Soyabean Processors Association of India (Sopa) has revealed in its third survey that the average yield per hectare is likely to go up to 796 kg per hectare against 780 per hectare.

Sopa surveyed 157 villages and 653 cultivators. The findings indicate that delayed rains after the sowing period in most of the areas hampered the growth. Normal to excess rainfall was observed in July while it (rain) played truant during month of August "� a larger deficiency.

Therefore in Malwa Region the drought like conditions extended from second week of August to second week of September, which causes serious damage to the crop at the flowering and podding stage. Towards the end of second week of September the rains saved the crop.

Drought conditions during August affected Malwa and Nimar agro climatic zone. Though September rains helped in pod filling, the damage caused during the flowering phase could not be completely recovered. Insect and weeds attack also affected Soyabean crop in some areas, said Sopa.

In all the soybean-growing areas especially of Malwa and Nimar tract soyabean crop prospects improved with the spell of rains on September 5.

Of the total 41.922 lakh hectares, a total of 11 lakh hectares have gone under below average crop, 6.708 lakh hectare has average crop, 13.834 lakh hectare has good crop while only 9.642 lakh hectare area has excellent crop, Sopa survey said.