August 24, 2011

Indian soy area increases to 10.23 million hectares

Soy area has jumped to 10.23 million hectares this year, according to India's junior Farm Minister on Tuesday (Aug 23).

The total area under the oilseed was at 9.55 million hectares in 2010-11, Harish Rawat said.

Soy, India's biggest oilseed crop, accounts for more than 60% of the total summer-sown oilseed production. Sowing normally starts in June and July, while harvesting begins from October.

Better rainfall in major soy-growing regions has raised hopes of a higher output of the oilseed. Monsoon rains were 24% above normal in Madhya Pradesh, the largest soy-producing state, between June 1 and August 22.

The country's soy output may rise by one million tonnes in the next marketing year starting October 1, according to industry executives. India produced about 12.66 million tonnes of soy in 2010-11, according to government estimates.