Area under soybean has risen 8.38% to 9.4 million hectares this year.
The country’s soybean output is likely to rise 14 per cent this year on favourable climatic conditions throughout the season, coupled with a phenomenal rise in sowing area.
According to a survey conducted by Religare Commodities, India’s soybean output is set to rise to 10.8 million tonnes during 2008-09 as compared to 9.5 million tonnes in the previous year. Soybean sowing begins in June and continues till July-end while harvesting commences during September and stretches until December.
The area under soybean has risen 8.38 per cent or 728,000 hectares (ha) to 9.4 million ha this year.
The survey found farmers aggressive this season in Madhya Pradesh, the largest soyabean producer in the country, where farmers began sowing as early as June with the onset of monsoon. The even distribution of rainfall in the state made the crop healthy with adequate sprouts coming in.
Now, late September rainfalls helped in growth of 10-12 buds across the plant resulting into an estimated 14 per cent or 700,000 tonnes rise in the output. This year, the output is estimated to rise to 5.7 million tonnes as compared to 5 million tonnes in the previous year and 4.7 million tonnes during 2006-07.
Maharashtra being the second largest producer reported good irrigation facilities across the main production areas including Konkan, Satara, Kolhapur and Solapur. Friendly irrigation facilities also helped farmers provide required moisture content to soil which may raise productivity in the state. Although a major chunk of land depends largely on monsoon for better output yet, a good distribution of rainfalls helped achieved farmers’ expected output at 3.6 million tonnes during 2008-09 as compared to 3.2 million tonnes in 2007-08 and 2.4 million tonnes during previous year.
Rajasthan is the third largest soybean producer. During 2006-07, the state produced around 500,000 tonnes of soyabean which shot up to 750,000 tonnes in 2007-08. The soybean output in the state is likely to increase up to 1 million tonnes this year.
Andhra Pradesh’s contribution to the India’s total production is very low. The state produced around 100,000 tonnes of soybean in 2006-07 which increased to 140,000 tonnes in 2007-08. On a better monsoon and positive planting practices, the output is likely to surge to 170,000 tonnes this year.
The survey, however, indicates a 13 per cent fall in soybean output in Karnataka at 150,000 tonnes this year as compared to 170,000 tonnes in 2007-08 and 150,000 tonne in 2006-07.
Soybean has only 17-18 per cent oil content. During trading, a major price guiding factor is soybean meal which is exported from India to big nations. But, the meal exports this year may decline depending on the deals signed so far this year.
Indian traders signed export deals for 600,000 tonnes so far this year as compared to nearly 1.6 million tonnes around the same time last year.
