June 26, 2009
Key central Indian state yet to start soy sowing
India's leading soy producing state, Madhya Pradesh, hasn't begun sowing its 2009 crop due to lower-than-normal monsoon rainfall, a state farm ministry official said Thursday (June 25).
"We will start soy sowing only after we get three to four inches of rainfall," said D.N. Sharma, director of agriculture at the state government of Madhya Pradesh.
There have been some pre-monsoon showers in the past few days and it is hoped that the annual rains will start in earnest soon, he added.
"We won't have any problems if monsoon rains arrive by July 15," Sharma said.
