September 7, 2023

Erratic monsoon rainfall threatens India's soybean crop

India's monsoon season has brought erratic rainfall to several major crop-producing regions, raising concerns that the adverse conditions will affect country's soybean crop, Gro Intelligence reported.

The soybean crop relies heavily on the typically abundant rains during the June to September monsoon season. Since June 1, the accumulated precipitation in India's soybean-growing regions is nearly 10% below the 10-year average, as reported by Gro's Climate Risk Navigator for Agriculture.

In states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, which together contribute to almost 85% of India's total soybean production, the situation has been particularly challenging in August. Madhya Pradesh, the top soybean-producing state, experienced rainfall in August that was 61% below the historical average for the month. Accumulated precipitation in Madhya Pradesh since June 1 is 12% below average, with a notable impact on soybean-producing areas in the state.

While Maharashtra saw below-average rainfall in August, it had heavy rains in July, balancing the situation to some extent. The total rainfall in Maharashtra so far this season remains close to normal levels.

It's essential to note that India faced a similar situation in 2017 when key soybean-producing states experienced below-average rainfall. That year, the country witnessed a 24% drop in soybean production, accompanied by an 18% decline in crop yields.

-      Gro Intelligence