September 4, 2014
India's soybean cultivation drops 9% in 2014
At 10.90 million hectares, India's soybean kharif cultivation has seen a 9% decline during 2014.
During 2013, soybeankharif cultivation was recorded at 12.03 million hectares, according to the Madhya Pradesh-based Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA).
SOPA said, as per the data received from agriculture department of the respective states, the area sown under soybean during kharif 2014 is reduced by 9.6% in Madhya Pradesh at 5.65 million hectares, as compared to 6.26 million hectares sowed in kharif 2013.
Soybean sowing in Maharashtra was recorded at 3.55 million hectares, a drop of 320,000 hectares, against 3.87 million hectares, whereas, Rajasthan saw the highest drop of 19.3% in soybean sowing at 854,000 hectares, as against 1.05 million hectares during kharif 2013.
Soybean sowing in the states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chattisgarh and Gujarat, were recorded at 261,000 hectares, 295,000 hectares, 144,000 hectares and 67600 hectares, respectively, SOPA adds.