“If you want to step on to my farm, you cannot think of it for at least a week. It is totally under water,” says Mr Daud Patel, a farmer in Dhonk Khurd village, about 30 km from Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
“We have had heavy downpour this year and due to that the pods have started dropping. More than half the area under soyabean could be affected,” he said over phone.
“The downpour has, fortunately, turned into drizzles. The early sown variety should be ready for harvest in eight days but we need sunshine,” said Mr Sunil Mukhati, another farmer from a village near Indore.
“The situation is serious but not alarming. There can be loss but not heavy,” he said.
‘No cause for panic'
Soyabean coverage may have been a record 103.1 lakh hectares (lh) this year compared with last year's 92.85 lh. But heavy downpour in the last few days is threatening to play spoilsport.
According to the India Meteorological Department, eastern Madhya Pradesh has received a 14 per cent excess rainfall, while in western Madhya Pradesh the rainfall is 31 per cent excess. Rajasthan, another soyabean-growing State, has also received bountiful rain with the eastern region getting 28 per cent excess and western 29 per cent excess rainfall.
“At least 15-20 per cent of the low-lying areas under soyabean have been affected by the downpour. It could affect production to some extent. But as of now, it is difficult to ascertain the extent of damage,” said Mr Rajesh Agrawal, spokesman of the Soyabean Processors Association of India.
“We were expecting a very good crop, especially because of the higher acreage. But looks like the rain will have some effect on the output. However, reports from other areas are encouraging and there is no cause for panic,” said Mr Agrawal.
Mr Patel said the heavy downpour in the last few days has affected the roots of the plants. “The crop has become yellow and is drooping,” he said.
Farmers in regions around Indore are facing a double whammy. Last year, their wheat or chana (gram) crop was hit by unseasonal rain in November.
“I have sown four varieties of soyabean on my farm. All the four have been affected by the rain,” said Mr Patel.
“If we can get good sunshine from hereon, we can get a good crop,” said Mr Agrawal. The Soyabean Processors Association is expected to undertake the annual survey of the crop sometime after the third week of this month when the crop is ready for harvest.
Stray case
Of the 103.1 lh under soyabean, Madhya Pradesh accounts for 57.3 lh. Last year, the acreage was 53.9 lh. This year, the area under the oilseed is up in Rajasthan at 8.82 lh (7.65 lh).
Meanwhile, reports of non-germination of seeds in some parts of Maharashtra have been termed a stray case. “The situation is normal in Maharashtra with regard to soyabean. The case of seeds not sprouting occurs every year and it is not new,” said Mr Agrawal.
The problem is reported to occur when traders or small seed manufacturers do not follow proper procedure in producing seeds.
Sometimes, they tend to sell old seeds as certified seeds and this could lead to problem, according to sources in the industry.
In Maharashtra, 30.54 lh have been brought under soyabean against 26 lh last year. It is the second-largest producer of the oilseed in the country.