July 24, 2006

 

India soybean sowing so far 85 percent of 2006 target

 

 

India's soybean-producing area so far in 2006 is estimated at 6.9 million hectares, around 85 percent of the targeted 8.21 million hectares, the Soybean Processors Association of India, or SOPA said Friday (Jul 21).

 

In its first report on soybean crop outlook for 2006 that represents local traders, crushers and producers, SOPA said the crop is in good condition.

 

"No shift has been observed of traditionally soybean producing area to other crops due to delayed monsoon rains in Madhya Pradesh," the report said.

 

Madhya Pradesh in central India is country's largest soybean producing province in terms of volumes.

 

Soybeans along with groundnuts are India's two main summer-sown oilseeds in terms of acreage and volume produced.

 

Their sowing is crucial as the size of India's edible oil imports and soymeal exports in 2007 depend on it.

 

The industry's sowing estimates are a notch higher than those issued by the government earlier this week.

 

According to government data, as of Jul 14, 5.2 million hectares have been sown with soybeans, up from 4.4 million hectares a year earlier. The data should be revised Monday.

 

Despite a delay in arrival of monsoon in central Indian region including Madhya Pradesh, around 91 percent of the targeted sowing is complete in the province and is estimated at 4.1 million hectares--nearly the same as last year--the report said.

 

In the other major soybean-producing province, Maharashtra, about 84 percent of the targeted area has been covered with soybean at 2 million hectares. A small part of the province faces moisture stress due to deficient rains.

 

In Rajasthan, a province in north-west India, rains set in late and sowing is still in progress. At 448,200 hectares only 60 percent of the targeted area is covered so far.