Soyabean crop has been totally damaged on about 8 lakh hectares (lh) due to excess rains and the crop condition is poor in about 12.83 per cent of the planted area, according to Soyabean Processors Association of India (SOPA), the apex trade body.

As a result of complete crop damage, SOPA has pegged the acreage lower to the extent of 6.45 per cent at 115.5 lh against the Agriculture Ministry’s estimates of 123.60 lh.

SOPA said crop condition is normal in 42.20 per cent of the sown area, good in 22.97 per cent and very good in 15.46 per cent.

SOPA had carried out extensive survey recently across every major soyabean growing districts in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka among others interacting with farmers on the fields, traders, input suppliers, mandi officials and soya processors to assess the health of the oilseed crop.

In Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the crop is in grain filling stage, SOPA said.

Differing estimates (in lakh hectares)

Crop switch

In the largest producing State of Madhya Pradesh, the crop has witnessed some damage due to heavy rainfall in districts such as Guna, Ashoknagar, Vidhsa, Sagar, Damoh, Rajgarh and Bhopal, which will affect the productivity. Also in these districts, some area has been converted from soyabean to blackgram, moong, maize and paddy.

Further, in Ratlam, Mandsour and Neemuch districts, the crop has been affected in small areas by pest attack and diseases such as stem fly, leaf blight and root rot.

In Rajasthan, the delayed sowing has affected the plant growth and the crop is in flowering and pod formation stages. Substantial area has been converted to black gram, moong, maize and paddy among others.

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