Soybean, pulses sowing may be delayed by week in MP

Farmers in Madhya Pradesh may have to wait for one week more for sowing kharif crops including soybean and pulses.

Sowing is likely to start in the last week of June or first week of July this season due to some delay in arrival of monsoon in Central India.

“Even though the southwest monsoon will hit Kerala on time, its progress will be delayed by about a week, and Central India will not get monsoon rains till June 20,” the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has said.

With more than 60% of agricultural land in Madhya Pradesh being rain-fed, farmers need timely rains for sowing kharif crops such as soybean and pulses.

Good rains in June will also increase the yield of pulses such as moong and urad, which will help cool down the retail prices that have increased by about 50% in the past two months.

“Ideal window for sowing soybean is between June 15 and June 30, and soybean crop needs about three to four inches of rainfall before sowing can commence,” scientist and soybean expert Dr P S Bhatnagar said.

However, the Indore-based Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) is not worried about the forecast. “A few days here or there will not affect the sowing, and every year sowing continues until July,” SOPA office-bearer Rajesh Agrawal said.

Soybean is the principal kharif crop of Madhya Pradesh.