June 3, 2011

Indian soy cultivation area forecast remains constant

India's soy cultivation area will not undergo big changes in the coming kharif season in contrast to last year, according to experts.

The area under soy, which is grown only in the autumn harvest season, was around 9.3 million hectares in the 2010-11 crop year from July-June, according to the Soybean Processors Association (SOPA).

Madhya Pradesh is the largest producing state, with soy acreage of 5.51 million hectares in 2010-11.

"We do not expect any major change in the sowing area of soy this year. If there is any change, it would be 1-2%," SOPA Spokesman Rajesh Aggarwal said.

Farmers in Maharashtra could shift to cotton crop due to more market gains, but that deficit would be filled by increased sowing in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, he added.

Maharashtra had sown soy over 2.6 million hectares in 2010-11, while Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka had sown the crop in 1.4 million hectares and 1.8 million hectares, respectively, in the same period, he noted.

On the arrival of the monsoon, Aggarwal said that farmers have started preparing their fields and a good downpour in the middle of June and then two to three inches of rain every second week would ensure a good crop.

According to the third advance estimates of the Agriculture Ministry, soy production stood at a record 12.58 million tonnes in the 2010-11 crop year.

As per SOPA, the estimated national production of soy in the 2010-11 season would be 10.12 million tonnes.