"Looking at the good realisation that farmers have received, soyabean farmers would definitely like to increase the area during this Kharif season," Soyabean Processors' Association of India Coordinator Rajesh Agrawal said.
The sowing area is expected to increase by 7-8 lakh hectare in the coming Kharif season, Agrawal said and hoped that this would lead to a higher production if weather remains favourable to the crop.
The area under coverage for soyabean stood at 88.5 lakh hectare in 2007-08 season. Soyabean is grown during the Kharif season and harvest begins in September-October.
"Farmers have realised an average price of Rs 1,900-2,200 per quintal in 2007-08 season, which is 50-60 per cent more than previous year," Agrawal noted.
The average wholesale price of yellow soyabean increased to 2,177 per quintal in April 2008 from Rs 1,586 a quintal in October 2007 when new crop arrived in the market.
The average is expected to increase more in Maharashtra, southern states and in adjoining areas of Madhya Pradesh that falls in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Agrawal said.
"In Madhya Pradesh the increase in area will be less as already 48-49 lakh hectare area is under soyabean cultivation and the scope of further increase is limited," he said, adding that area could still rise by 2-3 lakh hectares in the state.
As per government's third advance estimate, soyabean output is pegged at record 94.3 lakh tonnes in 2007-08. According to industry experts, the soyabean production may cross 100 lakh tonnes this year.
