Soya acreage gains, cotton loses ground

PUNE: India is likely to see a record high soyabean acreage in the current kharif season, mainly due to diversion of area from cotton. With 95% sowing already completed, the acreage under the oilseed crop is likely to be more than even the expectations of the soyabeanbased industry.

According to soyabean processors association (SOPA), area under soyabean in Madhya Pradesh, the largest producer of the crop, is likely to be more than 61 lakh hectare as compared to 58.5 lakh hectare last year. “The area under soyabean is likely to be more than our expectations this year due to diversion from cotton and good rains,” said SOPA spokesperson Rajesh Agrawal. The total soyabean area may be more than 112 lakh hectare.

Soyabean sowing in second largest producer Maharashtra, has been completed on 30.33 lakh hectare as on July 8.