Maharashtra soybean cultivation area drop by 2 lakh hectares

(RNS, 27-05-25) The area under soybean cultivation in Maharashtra is expected to drop by two lakh hectares due to poor returns on the produce last year, agriculture department officials said on Sunday.

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While soybean is considered one of the assured cash crops when it comes to higher returns, external factors like import of soybean cake as fodder and the government's reluctance to purchase have been dampeners, farmers claimed. Other factors include losses caused by irregular rainfall, delay in procurement by the government at minimum support price (MSP), all of which have resulted in low earnings, triggering subdued interest in soybean cultivation this year, they added. "Last year, soybean cultivation was on 52 lakh hectares in the state. This time we estimate this to come down to 50 lakh hectares, a drop of two lakh hectares," an official said. "Soybean attracted a rate of Rs 3,900 to Rs 4,400 per quintal when the Union government announced MSP of Rs 4,892 per quintal. Everybody knows the government cannot buy the entire soybean crop, and traders misuse this situation. The rates mentioned above are the actual earnings. Discouraged by last year's trends, the soybean cultivation has taken a hit," said Ahilyanagar farmer Shrinivas Kadlag. He also claimed poultr