Maharashtra Leads in Soybean Sowing

With favourable monsoon conditions, Kharif crop sowing has accelerated across India, particularly in Maharashtra. The state is witnessing a record high in soybean sowing, with the area under soybean cultivation now approximately four times greater than last year. As of July 8, 78.54% of Kharif crops have been sown in Maharashtra, covering about 11.2 million hectares, up from 4.1 million hectares last year. Agriculture Department officials predict that this year’s sowing will exceed 100% of the targeted area.

Significant Increase in Cultivated Area

• This year, soybean has emerged as the top crop in Maharashtra, with sowing reaching 4.319 million hectares, compared to 1.107 million hectares at the same time last year.
• This significant increase indicates that soybean will be the first crop to achieve more than 100% of the sowing target.
• Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar leads with 0.534 million hectares of soybean sown, surpassing the average of 0.378 million hectares.
• Western Maharashtra, including Pune, has also seen substantial soybean sowing.
• By July 5, Kharif crops were sown over 38 million hectares across India, a 14% increase from the previous year's 33.1 million hectares.
• Soybean sowing alone increased by 110% to 6.063 million hectares from 2.886 million hectares last year.

Focus on Disease Control and Input Supply

Soybean is favored by farmers due to its ease of cultivation and favorable market prices. However, farmer activists have raised concerns about potential disease outbreaks, such as snail attacks on soybean and maize. They urge the government to prepare contingency plans for pest control, as many marginal farmers cannot afford pesticide costs. With the increase in crop area, demand for fertilizers and pesticides has surged. Agricultural input companies anticipate up to a 20% increase in sales this season. The state government has mandated that there should be no shortages of seeds and fertilizers, issuing orders for adequate supplies and setting up a WhatsApp helpline for complaints regarding overpriced or fake seeds. The identity of complainants will be kept confidential, and strict action will be taken against fraudulent sellers.

In summary, Maharashtra's soybean sowing has reached unprecedented levels, driven by good monsoon rains and favorable market conditions. While the increase in sowing is promising, challenges such as disease control remain. The government's proactive measures to ensure the availability of agricultural inputs and address farmer concerns will be crucial for a successful harvest season.