The outlook for soyabean acreage appears to be weak even if official data state otherwise. Agriculture Ministry data show that oilseeds have been sown across 10.13 million hectares (mh) as of last week, up 355.3 per cent from 2.24 mh the same time last year.
But, with the monsoon slowing across central India over the past three weeks, experts are worried that the overall Kharif soyabean acreage may actually dip at the end of the sowing period.
“The situation is grim since there’s been no rain for the last 20-25 days in many parts of Maharashtra and west Madhya Pradesh. Overall acreage could drop. Rainfall is required over the next day or two with the crop under severe stress,” said VS Bhatia, Director, ICAR-Directorate of Soybean Research.
The bump in sowing figures, said experts, was mainly due to soyabean sowing having taken place almost a month in advance compared to last year.
While planting had been completed across vast tracts of MP due to the timely onset of the monsoon, acreage in Maharashtra is considerably lower than normal. With dry conditions prevailing, there is a possibility of farmers switching to short-duration crops, such as maize and moong.
Only 1.8-2 mh have been covered in Maharashtra where the average acreage is usually 3-3.5 mh. He added that the Directorate has suggested that farmers could replant soyabean after July 30 in case there was rain and has suggested intercultural operations to conserve water.